Novak Djokovic hasn’t decided if he’ll join the 2024 ATP Finals, even if he qualifies, and Ivan Ljubicic, who once coached Roger Federer, thinks he might skip it. Djokovic’s dedication to staying fit and competitive at 37 is something special in the tennis world.
With Rafael Nadal announcing his retirement after next month’s ATP Finals, Djokovic’s role in tennis becomes even more crucial. Among the famous trio of him, Nadal, and Federer, he’s the only one not retiring yet.
Recently, Djokovic faced Nadal for a final time at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. This event also featured stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. After winning against Nadal in straight sets there, Djokovic expressed deep admiration for him and wished he wasn’t leaving tennis.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
Djokovic’s Priorities:
Fans might wonder if Djokovic will focus only on big events now. He has mentioned that Grand Slams and playing for Serbia are his main goals now. In fact, he hinted that tournaments like the ATP Finals aren’t high on his list anymore.
Skipping the Paris Masters next week shows this mindset clearly. Although he’s a seven-time winner there, he apologized to fans for not attending but promised to try again next year. His absence from both Paris and Belgrade means qualifying for Turin isn’t guaranteed anymore.
The legendary player is currently sixth in line for Turin’s year-end tournament but whether that’s enough remains uncertain. Ljubicic believes Djokovic won’t play at the ATP Finals even if he makes it because he’s focused on select tournaments rather than rankings.
“In my opinion,” Ljubicic said to Sky Sports, “his goal is definitely the tournaments and not the ranking because to climb higher, he would have to play much more.”
Many see ATP Finals as a major event outside Grand Slams; skipping it could show how much importance Djokovic places on those four big ones now as his career progresses.
What do you think about all this?
