With the Nitto ATP Finals just days away, there was still a question as to whether or not Novak Djokovic will be in Turin. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is not certain of his qualification for the last major event on the ATP calendar, but his chances are very high at this stage.
According to the Serbian media, the former world number 1 – who has lifted the trophy in Turin in the last two editions – may decide to skip the finals even if he qualifies. The 37-year-old from Belgrade has said several times that he has other goals at this stage of his career and his recent choices show that he was not bluffing.
The Serbian legend decided to skip the Rolex Paris Masters last week, where he was supposed to defend his title in 2023, and went on holiday with his family to Maldives. Given these premises, it would be very surprising if Nole was present in Turin. Novak has been spotted in Belgrade in the last few days, where he is playing the ATP 250 which his brother is organizing. Djokovic has not yet officially clarified his intentions, but the most likely hypothesis is that his season is already over.
Djokovic’s season is over
Today, the former world number one has finally made his decision. Through his social media accounts, Novak announced that he is still injured and will not compete in the 2024 edition of the Nitto ATP Finals. “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” Djokovic explained in an Instagram Story. “Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”
Nole’s season ends early, so he can start preparing well for 2025, which could be the last year of his legendary career. The next big goal of the Serbian champion will be the 2025 Australian Open, a tournament in which he has won ten times and often brought him luck, where he will try to win his 25th Major title. The 37-year-old from Belgrade could have a tough draw at Melbourne Park next January, possibly facing either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16.
During a recent interview with ‘Tennis Magazin’, former ATP ace Michael Stich opened up on Nole’s future: “With Novak, it’s a bit different to Nadal. He has always surprised you. They have all surprised us at certain times in their careers. But I would have liked Rafael to say ‘I’m quitting’ after his 14th French Open victory.
I would have also liked Novak to call it quits after winning the gold medal. What else could come next? The eleventh Australian Open victory? If that drives him, all good. But at some point, as I felt, you don’t want to lose to the number 30, 40 or 50 in the world and have to work so hard. Finding the way out is always difficult.”
An unsurprising decision
The next season will also be decisive for Djokovic’s future. If he realizes that he is no longer able to win important titles and defeat the new young champions, the Serbian legend may decide to retire at the end of 2025. With the retirement of Federer, Murray and Nadal, an era is truly over and Novak will be the only surviving ‘Fab Four’ still active in the next season.
On the days he was playing the ‘Six Kings Slam‘ in Saudi Arabia, the Serb gave a long interview to ‘La Nacion’ where he talked about many topics. During that conversation, the 24-time Grand Slam champion recalled some truly tragic moments from his childhood: “Serbia is a very old nation. First of all, we have to clarify that, because we have a very rich history and tradition. But in recent history, the last hundred years—World War I, World War II and especially now, in the last 30 years–we suffered a lot, not only us, but also Croatia and Bosnia.
Unfortunately, that country that used to be one country, Yugoslavia, broke up in the 1990s, and I was born in 1987, like Messi, so I don’t really remember what that country was like, because I was very young. I remember the second part of the 1990s and our country was under sanctions and an embargo, meaning we couldn’t export or import anything.
I remember standing in line with my grandfather at 5 in the morning to get bread to feed our whole family—my grandfather, my aunt, my uncle, my cousins, my siblings, my parents and I. We all lived together in a small apartment because we had no other choice and those are the things that became an integral part of my character, of who I am today as a person.”
