Novak Djokovic announced Tuesday that he will not be defending his ATP Finals title due to an “ongoing injury,” marking the end of the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s 2024 season.
Djokovic was one of four players vying for three remaining spots at the season-ending event in Turin, which starts on Sunday. However, in a social media post, the Serbian tennis icon confirmed his withdrawal, stating, “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to 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!”
Currently ranked fifth in the world, Djokovic sits sixth in “The Race,” the ATP’s annual ranking that determines the eight players competing at the Finals. With Djokovic’s exit, the final three spots automatically open up to Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev.
The 37-year-old Serb had already withdrawn from the Paris Masters, signaling an early end to what has been a challenging year. Remarkably, 2024 saw Djokovic go without a single ATP title, a first since 2006, as he faced stiff competition from rising stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite the challenges, Djokovic secured a major career milestone by winning singles gold at the Paris Olympics, completing his collection of career titles.
AFP
