Tennis fans were dealt a blow as defending champion Novak Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the ATP Finals due to an ongoing injury.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar, who has dominated the sport for over a decade, had already secured his spot as the sixth-best player on the ATP Tour this season.
“I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” Djokovic shared on social media. “Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon.”
This withdrawal comes as no surprise, as Djokovic hinted last month that competing in the tour’s year-end finals was not a priority. With a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles under his belt, Djokovic is shifting his focus to the Grand Slams, particularly the Australian Open, which starts on January 12.
In Melbourne, Djokovic will be aiming for an all-time record 25th major singles title, surpassing Australia’s Margaret Court. He’ll also be chasing his 100th tour-level trophy, cementing his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
The ATP Finals will take place in Turin, Italy, from November 10-17. Notably, this will be the first time since 2001 that the event does not feature at least one of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic.
