Novak Djokovic will not defend his title at the ATP Finals after withdrawing due to an unspecified injury, leaving the season-ending tournament without the presence of one of the “Big Three” of men’s tennis for the first time in the tournament. last 23 years.
Through a story on his Instagram account, the Serbian star announced yesterday his absence for the tournament that will be staged in Turin.
“I was very eager to be there, but because of the injury I have, I won’t play next week. My apologies to everyone who had planned to come see me,” shared the Serbian tennis player.
The competition that brings together the eight best of the year, traditionally known as the Masters Cup, starts on Sunday.
Djokovic holds the tournament record with seven titles. He defeated current world number one Jannik Sinner in the final match last year.
Roger Federer, who announced his retirement in 2022, has won the tournament six times since making his debut in 2022.
Rafael Nadal, who will retire after competing in the Davis Cup this month, was a finalist twice but was never crowned champion. You would have to go back to Sydney 2001 to find the last time the Masters Cup did not have the presence of at least one of Djokovic, Federer or Nadal.
This season was also the first since 2002 without at least one of the members of that famous trio winning a Grand Slam title.
Djokovic completed the year with a record of 37-9, in which the highlight was winning his first Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final. It was the 99th title of his career.
He failed to add to his record haul of 24 Grand Slam titles this year.
After losing in the third round of the US Open, he only played one match in the Davis Cup and reached the final of the Shanghai Masters last month, succumbing to the Italian Sinner.
Apart from Sinner and Alcaraz, two of the favorites for the title, the other participants in the ATP Finals are Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev. — EFE
