By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday November 5, 2024
The 24-time major champion has pulled out of the ATP Finals, citing an ongoing injury.
Photo Source: Mark Peterson/ Corleve
For the first time since 2001, the ATP’s season-ending championships will be held without a member of tennis’ hallowed Big 3 participating.
Novak Djokovic pulled out of this year’s event, citing an ongoing injury, on Tuesday.
“Due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” 37-year-old Djokovic said on Instagram.
His absence solidifies the eight-player field, marking the qualification of Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev.
The ATP Finals will be held from November 10-17. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz had already previously qualified.
Djokovic went without a Grand Slam title in 2024, reaching the final at Wimbledon and winning gold at the Olympics in Paris. It’s the first time he has gone a full season without winning a Grand Slam title since 2017. The Serbian legend, who holds 99 titles overall, will turn 38 next May.
The seven-time ATP Finals champion won the title in Turin last year, defeating Jannik Sinner in the final.
He struggled with injuries in 2024, undergoing a knee surgery in June after suffering an injury during his round of 16 five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo at Roland-Garros. He was back at Wimbledon, remarkably, but fell to Carlos Alcaraz in a lopsided final at the All England Club.
A month later at the Olympics he notched one of his biggest titles in Paris, solidifying his legacy by defeating Alcaraz for the gold medal.
He finishes 2024 with a 37-9 overall record.
