Seven-time ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic has confirmed that he won’t be present at the Nitto ATP Finals to defend his title. The Serbian is in contention to qualify for the season-ending finale as he sits sixth in the qualifying spots, with the top 8 going to Turin. However, he has cited that he is battling an ongoing injury and wants to extend his career.
“I was really looking forward to being there, but due to an ongoing injury, I won’t be playing next week. Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!” Novak Djokovic said on his Instagram story.
Djokovic is the first qualifying player since Carlos Alcaraz in 2022 to withdraw from the ATP Finals. The Spaniard also withdrew from the event that year due to an injury but ended the season as the world #1.
Djokovic is the most decorated champion in the history of the ATP Finals, winning seven titles in total. Last year, he broke the record shared with Roger Federer by beating Jannik Sinner in the final. The Serb won his first ATP Finals title in 2008 back when it was still called the Tennis Masters Cup, before dominating the event after it moved to intially moved to London where he won four titles on the bounce from 2012 to 2015. In all four of those finals, he beat either Federer or Rafael Nadal in the finals. The Serb enjoyed further success at the ATP Finals in Turin in 2022 and 2023.
Djokovic’s season ends with a 37-9 win-loss record. His only singles title came at the Paris Olympics, where he beat Alcaraz in the final to secure his first Olympic Singles Gold medal. Apart from that, he has made two finals elsewhere in Wimbledon and Shanghai Masters, respectively. He was unable to win any Grand Slam events in a season for just the second time since 2010. Whilst he achieved his biggest goal, there is little doubt that this season was a disappointment for the 24-time Major champion who battled injury throughout.
It is no great surprise as a result that injury has brought his season to an early close, though that will not make it any easier to swallow for Djokovic. But in the end, no one – not even the great Serbian – can defeat Father Time.
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