Novak Djokovic won’t defend his ATP Finals title after ruling himself out citing an injury. File photo | Photo Credit: AP
(AP) — Novak Djokovic won’t defend his ATP Finals title after ruling himself out Tuesday citing an injury, leaving the season-ending event without a member of the Big Three of men’s tennis for the first time in 23 years.
“I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” Djokovic wrote on social media, without specifying what the problem is. “Apologies to those who were planning to see me.”
The eight-man tournament begins Sunday in Turin, Italy.
Djokovic has won the ATP Finals a record seven times. He beat current No. 1 Jannik Sinner for the title last year.
Roger Federer, who announced his retirement in 2022, won the event six times after making his debut in 2002; Rafael Nadal, who is retiring after playing in the Davis Cup this month, was the runner-up twice at the ATP Finals but never won it.
Not since 2001 has the tournament been held without at least one of Djokovic, Federer or Nadal. This season also was the first since 2002 without at least one Grand Slam title for a member of that trio.
Djokovic finishes the year with a 37-9 record but only one tournament championship: his first Olympic gold medal, which came at the Paris Games in August. That was his 99th tour-level title.
Djokovic did not add to his men’s-record 24 Grand Slam trophies in 2024 and dealt with a torn meniscus in his right knee that required surgery and forced him to withdraw from the French Open before the quarterfinals. After bowing out of the U.S. Open in the third round, he played one Davis Cup match and then reached the final of the Shanghai Masters last month, losing to Sinner. He withdrew from the Paris Masters.
Joining Sinner in Turin will be Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev.
“Wishing all the players a great tournament,” Djokovic said. “See you soon!”
Published – November 06, 2024 05:17 am IST
Federer Improves as the Rounds go by could be Road to 21
Federer beats Lorenzo Sonego 7-5,6-4,6-2 playing on the centre court.
The first set looked a bit shaky from Federer when he had a chance to break and serve it out to win the set but wasn’t able to. Luckily for Federer it started to pour slightly so the roof of the stadium had to be closed and after the break sonego made bad errors which cost him the set. Sonego started the second set off well but quickly became frustrated because of the level federer rose himself to which forced the errors of sonego. Third set he put pressure on sonego’s serve and on his own serve was able to win comfortably. The master of grass won the match and now moves onto the quarter finals. Federer in the post match conference talked about how this would be the last of the manic Mondays as from next year Sunday wouldn’t be given as a rest day at Wimbledon. He also talked about his next opponent whose match had been suspended due to rain “It is not fair for anyone. I have been in these situations before – but these guys are young and they can recover! Unfortunately they are very, very good too, so hopefully it rains again tomorrow… I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” He is improving his form with every minute he spends on the court.
