Novak Djokovic is focusing on getting healthy rather than competing in the ATP Finals, says Greg Rusedski. He recently pulled out of the Paris Masters, where he was defending his title, but still has a good chance of qualifying for the ATP Finals. The only way he wouldn’t qualify is if Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur both win titles next week and Casper Ruud reaches the semifinals.
Whether he’ll play at the ATP Finals remains uncertain. Djokovic hasn’t confirmed his participation in Turin even if he qualifies. Speculation arose when photos showed him vacationing with family, suggesting he might be wrapping up his 2024 season early.
The ATP Finals are important , but Djokovic has hinted that he’s moving away from non-Grand Slam tournaments as his career progresses. Ivan Ljubicic, once Roger Federer‘s coach, doubts Djokovic will participate this year but doesn’t rule out future appearances.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
Focus on Health:
Djokovic’s ten Australian Open victories make it a tournament he’s likely to prioritize after not winning a major this year for the first time since 2017. Ensuring he’s fit for January’s Melbourne event seems crucial. Since injuring his knee at Roland-Garros and losing his No. 1 spot to Jannik Sinner, he’s been playing with knee support.
Rusedski believes that getting fully fit for 2025 is more vital than chasing an eighth ATP Finals title now. Fans might think it’s wise for him to skip this year’s tournament to focus on recovery.
Rusedski shared on The Tennis Channel: “I think he needs to get healthy… Last season he won the ATP Finals and played in Davis Cup, so he couldn’t get the prep he needed in for this season.”
He added: “If Novak is 100% healthy, he’s in contention for every major next year… Off-season is huge; longer off-seasons benefit him.”
Concluding with: “I’d be surprised if he plays more tennis this season… He’s looked at Federer and Rafa; knows changes are needed to beat players like Sinner and Alcaraz back-to-back.”
Skipping the ATP Finals would be disappointing without Djokovic there, but players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could fill that void nicely. What do you think about Djokovic’s decision?