MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 24: Novak Djokovic of Serbia acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from the Men’s Singles Semifinal against Alexander Zverev of Germany during day 13 of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
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Novak Djokovic withdrew from this week’s Paris Masters and his status for the ATP Finals next month remains a mystery.
The 38-year-old Serbian legend has officially qualified for the Year-End event Nov. 9-16 along with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 2 Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Alexander Zverev.
“The ATP Tour would love to have Djokovic there, but we are getting mixed messages from the great one,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe said via text. “Sometimes he says he needs to play more events, other times not. He has certainly earned the right to play when he wants. My gut tells me he doesn’t play but begins gearing up for another run in Australia.”
Djokovic has not played since losing to Valentin Vacherot in the Shanghai semifinals. He failed to win a Grand Slam title this year, but did reach the semifinals of all four majors.
“I hope we’ll have the opportunity to see him again,” Cedric Pioline, the tournament director of the Paris Masters, said in reference to whether Djokovic might return to that tournament in 2026 or beyond. “I hope that he will see the tournament in the new venue. But for any tennis player, there’s a beginning and an end.
“His end, he’s drawing closer to the end of his career. I don’t know if he’s planned it or not. It’s becoming more difficult for him.
“Of course, he’s competing for the biggest titles, but maybe physically, he is lacking somehow.
“For Shanghai, it was Vacherot who won. There’s also Alcaraz and Sinner. Maybe his level of play is a little bit lower than those players.”
Djokovic remains at 24 major titles, most all-time among men.
His $189 million in career prize money as of August 2025 is the most ever.