Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Finals in Turin after winning the Hellenic Championship in a grueling three-hour final against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, citing a lingering shoulder injury that he says will prevent him from competing at full strength.
Djokovic announced his withdrawal late Saturday, just hours after clinching a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Musetti in Athens, a win that secured his 101st career title and set a new all-time hardcourt record.
“I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best,” Djokovic wrote on social media. “But after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion said he had been managing the shoulder issue throughout the tournament and played the final only after taking strong medication. “After yesterday’s match, I was hoping it was not going to flare up,” he told reporters. “But even before today’s match, it was not great. I had to take all the strong medications to be able to play. There’s no chance for me to go through the entire tournament in Turin with the required level of tennis when you’re playing the best eight in the world.
Djokovic’s withdrawal opened a late spot in the ATP Finals field. Musetti, despite losing Saturday’s match, will replace him in Turin. The Italian’s inclusion comes after Felix Auger-Aliassime initially secured the final qualifying position.
This marks the second consecutive year Djokovic has been forced to miss the season-ending event because of injury. The Serbian star has won the ATP Finals a record seven times, most recently in 2022.
Before announcing his withdrawal, Djokovic battled through fatigue and injury to defeat Musetti in what he called “an incredible battle.”
“Three hours of a grueling match, physically,” Djokovic said. “I’m just very proud of myself to get through this one.”
The final featured five service breaks in the deciding set before Djokovic sealed victory with a clean service winner. The triumph was his 72nd career title on hard courts, surpassing Roger Federer’s record of 71 and making him the most successful men’s player on the surface in history.
Djokovic now trails Federer’s 103 total career titles by just two, with Jimmy Connors still holding the all-time men’s record at 109.
The 38-year-old said his focus will now turn to recovery and preparation for the 2026 tennis season, which begins in January with the Australian Open, a tournament he has won 10 times. “I’ll do everything possible to recover and come back strong,” Djokovic said in his statement.
The ATP Finals begin Sunday in Turin, featuring world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and other top-ranked players.
Africa Digital News, New York
