The former world number one will not defend his title in Turin, a decision that involved a rearrangement of the pieces for the tournament that brings together the season’s top eight.
For several weeks, the rumor had been growing that Novak Djokovic would not participate in the ATP Finals. which will be held from November 10 to 17 in Turin, Italy. The Serb had already sounded the alarm a few days ago by deciding to withdraw from the Masters 1000 at Paris-Bercy, so the rumor was immediately fueled.
Finally, on Tuesday, the current world number five confirmed his withdrawal from the masters tournament which brings together the eight best of the season, citing physical problems. This was made known through a statement published on their social networks.
“I really wanted to be there, but due to a lingering injury I won’t play next week” Djokovic noted this through an Instagram story. “I’m sorry to those who were planning to see me. I wish an excellent tournament to all players. See you soon!” » added the seven-time champion of the end-of-season classic competition.
Djokovic, 37, won the title last year in Turin, beating Jannik Sinner in the final. It is worth noting that his first triumph in this tournament took place in 2008, when the tournament was still known as the Tennis Masters Cup.
In 2024, The Serbian achieved a record of 37 wins and nine losses, completing a season that culminated in the Olympic gold medal in Paris. where he beat Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the final, avenging his defeats at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. So, The Balkans reached the Golden Slam, which gets the four majors and the gold medal. Moreover, it earned him the 99th title of his career.
In a recent interview with the newspaper The Argentine nation the Serb admitted that it was difficult for him to maintain his desire, even if he still had gas left to continue. “Some people think I should retire from tennis at the top: ‘You’ve won gold, you’ve won everything, say goodbye.’ Some people think that I should continue as long as I continue to think that I can be the favorite for a Grand Slam. I think more about those. Maybe I will change my mind, I don’t know. For now, I want to continue. How much longer? Traveling and finding motivation is becoming more and more difficult for me. It’s not easy. And even less with children. I don’t want to be away from home for that long, but I still have the power. So I feel sorry for those who want me to retire because they will have to see me for a while longer,” he said.
The pieces are moving
The loss of Novak Djokovic led to a rearrangement in the main draw of the competition and definitively confirmed the qualifications. Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz They had already secured their place in the tournament before Nole’s announcement.
Finally, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev They complete the contingent that will take the field at the Inalpi Arena starting this Sunday. De Minaur, for example, abandoned the ATP 250 in Belgrade after learning of his direct entry into the competition.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will end the year outside the top 5, which has only happened once since 2007, and in the coming days he will travel to Argentina. to play an exhibition against Juan Martín del Potro on November 29.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
