Defending ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the prestigious season-ending tournament in Turin due to an ongoing injury, he confirmed on Tuesday. The 37-year-old, who has won a record seven ATP Finals titles, expressed his regret in an Instagram post, explaining that he had been looking forward to participating but was unable to compete because of his injury. He apologized to fans who were hoping to see him play, wishing the remaining participants the best of luck in the event.
As a result of Djokovic’s withdrawal, Norway’s Casper Ruud, Australian Alex de Minaur, and Russian Andrey Rublev have secured spots in the eight-player tournament regardless of their results in this week’s lead-up events. De Minaur, who had been on the cusp of qualification after his quarter-final loss to Holger Rune at the Paris Masters, will make his debut in the tournament, which is often regarded as the jewel in the ATP’s crown. Joining de Minaur will be world number one Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Taylor Fritz.
The ATP Finals, hosted at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, boast a total prize pool of $15.25 million, with an impressive $4.88 million awarded to the undefeated singles champion. The event will also feature the top eight doubles teams from the season, competing for their own share of the prize money.
Djokovic’s absence from this year’s tournament marks a significant change, as he has long been one of the most dominant figures at the ATP Finals. In 2023, he captured his record seventh title, defeating home favorite Sinner in the final. However, despite his continued success in the ATP Finals, Djokovic has not added any Grand Slam titles to his collection this year and did not win any ATP titles. His one major achievement in 2023 came when he clinched his first Olympic gold medal in Paris, defeating Spain’s Alcaraz.
