Novak Djokovic, the record-breaking 24-time Grand Slam champion, has withdrawn from the year-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, due to an undisclosed injury.
This news comes just days after Djokovic pulled out of the Paris Masters, which was won by world number two Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic, 37, was aiming to defend his 2023 ATP Finals title, where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the final.
He expressed his disappointment via Instagram Story, stating his desire to compete but acknowledging the ongoing injury would prevent him from participating.
He apologized to fans and wished the remaining players well in the tournament.
With Djokovic’s withdrawal, the race for the final three spots in the ATP Finals gets interesting. Casper Ruud, Alex De Minaur, and Andrey Rublev are expected to fill these spots.
Currently, Sinner, Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz (four-time Grand Slam winner), Daniil Medvedev (former U.S. Open champion), and Taylor Fritz have secured their places in the prestigious tournament, which runs from November 10th to 17th.
Despite the setback, Djokovic’s 2024 season has been successful. He boasts a 37-9 win-loss record, highlighted by his historic victory at the Paris Olympics. This win marked the completion of his career Golden Slam, adding the Olympic gold medal to his collection of 99 tour-level titles.
