Novak Djokovic has admitted that he has reduced his tennis schedule to better focus on \u2018important family moments\u2019, before providing a scathing rebuke of rejigged Masters 1000 formatting.<\/p>\n
The tennis legend is due to return to the tour at the US Open after a six-week absence, having not played since Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
At SW19, Djokovic \u2013 whose movement looked severely compromised \u2013 fell to world No 1 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
The world No 7 possesses a stunning record in New York, reaching ten singles finals \u2013 victorious in four.<\/p>\n
\u201cI decided not to play [since then] because I wanted to spend more time with my family,\u201d began the Serb, during his pre-tournament press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to be honest, you know, I think I earned my right and have the luxury of kind of choosing, picking and choosing where I want to go and what I want to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t actually have any schedule other than Slams, to be honest.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo yeah, it\u2019s just not any more prioritising the heavy schedule as I used to. I\u2019m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, etc. I just don\u2019t think about it anymore. For me, it\u2019s really about where do I find motivation and joy?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play? And Slams are obviously the four main tournaments where I always feel the most motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, family is my top priority. For example, I may miss my daughter\u2019s birthday on September 2 if I\u2019m still competing here, and that\u2019s something I don\u2019t take lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point in my life, being there for important family moments matters just as much as being on court. Those are types of things that I really don\u2019t want to be missing anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it\u2019s just on a personal level for me important to be there, to show up, you know, for the people that have been showing up for me for all these years playing tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 24-time Grand Slam champion\u2019s relatively light schedule this season is, undoubtedly, impacted by the expansion of the Masters 1000 tournaments.<\/p>\n
In 2025, seven of the nine such tournaments take place over 12 days within a 96-player draw.<\/p>\n
The Monte-Carlo and Paris Masters have retained their more traditional one-week format.<\/p>\n
Djokovic has missed all of the four most recent Masters 1000 tournament \u2013 in Madrid, Rome, Toronto, and Cincinnati \u2013 having not won a match at that level since the Miami Open in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be quite frank with you, I don\u2019t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore,\u201d the Serb admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the Slams, and I have said that before.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I also like other tournaments. I\u2019d like to play more of the other tournaments, but I just, we have currently informally, unofficially, 12 Grand Slams a year, you know, when you think about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, Grand Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well. So yeah, it\u2019s just not any more prioritising the heavy schedule as I used to.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera. I just don\u2019t think about it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
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