Novak Djokovic’s post to his Instagram story.Credit: Instagram
He is increasingly selective about when and where he plays, but will have competitive opportunities if he wants them during the Australian Open’s “Opening Week” next week, or even at the Kooyong Classic.
It was Djokovic’s second big announcement in as many days after he shared on Monday that he was stepping away from the Professional Tennis Players Association that he co-founded due to his values no longer being aligned with the organisation’s direction.
“To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I’m not quite ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,” Djokovic posted on social media.
“It’s personally very disappointing to me as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago [actually 2023]. I was really excited about returning as it truly felt like playing at home.
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“My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia.”
Djokovic is ranked behind only Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev entering the year, and reached the semi-finals at all four grand slams in 2025.
He retired from his Australian Open semi-final last year after losing a tight first set to Zverev because of a torn hamstring muscle.
Djokovic regularly fields retirement questions, but him targeting the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 – after beating Alcaraz to win Olympic gold in Paris two years ago – may douse that interest at least temporarily.
“I will play at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. These Games are the guiding star for me,” Djokovic said late last month.
“There are no limits. I love to compete and as long as I feel good, as long as my body can handle it, as long as I play at a high level, why not?
“Longevity is not just about sports, but about how you maintain your body, mind, energy and time. Billie Jean King once said: ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ I have always wanted to meet the world’s expectations. That’s why I am grateful to still be here.”
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