Novak Djokovic announced on Tuesday that he will not defend his ATP Finals title due to an "ongoing injury," marking the end of the 24-time Grand Slam champion's season. The tennis star, who was among four players vying for one of three remaining spots at the season finale in Turin starting Sunday, shared on social media that he won’t be pursuing a third consecutive Finals title.
"I was really looking forward to competing, but due to an ongoing injury, I won’t be able to play next week," Djokovic stated. "Apologies to fans who planned to see me, and I wish all the players a fantastic tournament. See you soon!"
The 37-year-old Serb, ranked fifth globally, currently holds sixth place in "The Race," the ATP rankings that decide the Finals lineup. With Djokovic stepping out, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Taylor Fritz have all qualified, leaving Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev to claim the remaining slots.
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Ruud and Rublev are competing in Metz, France, while De Minaur plays in Belgrade this week. Djokovic’s decision wasn’t entirely unexpected, as he had already withdrawn from the Paris Masters, signaling a close to a challenging season.
Notably, 2024 marks the first year since 2006 where Djokovic hasn’t captured an ATP title, as emerging stars Sinner and Alcaraz have taken the spotlight. Still, he achieved a major milestone by winning Olympic singles gold in Paris, adding the last missing honor to his distinguished career.
