While the other top players are playing the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 in an attempt to secure a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals, Novak Djokovic is on vacation in Maldives. The former world number 1 is currently qualified for the last major event of the ATP season, but his presence is at huge risk.
The Serbian legend admitted that the ATP Finals were no longer a goal for him, he wants to focus only on the Grand Slam tournaments and events in which he can represent Serbia. The 2023 champion could skip the Finals even if he qualified, but he would have some problems of a disciplinary nature not having a valid reason for forfeit.
Novak may still be outperformed in the ATP Race, but recent results at Paris-Bercy have paradoxically increased his chances of being in Turin. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not participated in the last Masters 1000 of the season and seems to be planning to stop playing in 2024, but we will definitely know more in the coming days.
Djokovic relaxes
When the ATP Finals are a dozen days away, Nole is on vacation and is not practicing. For this reason, it seems unlikely to see him in Turin. The 37-year-old from Belgrade had won in Turin last year by defeating Jannik Sinner in the final. Meanwhile, the images of Djokovic in Maldives and completing a crossword puzzle has gone viral on social media as other players are fighting to get him into the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
The season of the Serbian champion was disappointing in terms of results, not having won an ATP title. For the first time since 2017 and second time since 2011, the former world number 1 has not won a single Grand Slam title in an entire season. There is no doubt that a new era has begun in the mens tour, especially thanks to the vehement rise of Jannik Sinner andCarlitos Alcaraz.
This two young champions have shared their Major titles equally this year, while Novak seems to be struggling more to keep up at 37. Djokovic will try to keep the name of the Big 3 high in 2025, when there wont be even Rafa Nadal. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is preparing to retire from tennis at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November, unable to compete at the highest levels. The Serbian ace will be in Malaga to pay tribute to his eternal rival, with whom he has created one of the most iconic rivalries in tennis history and sport in general.
In a recent interview with MARCA, former ATP ace Guillermo Coria discussed the Big 3s ability to continually improve: Todays tennis players are taller and they move like I could at 1.75 metres. I think Rafa took advantage of the fact that there werent so many clay court specialists and he became strong there. That gave him confidence to play well on other surfaces.
You have to give credit to the doctors, the physiotherapists, and the diet. Rafa, Roger and Nole have been able to adapt to the times. Before, they used to lift a lot of weights, then they didnt: before you ate one way, now another. Carlitos Alcaraz, for example, says that he doesnt need to be on the court for so many hours and Ferrero and our generation needed to train for many hours to feel good.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic had the humility to adapt to changes in racket, strings, training sessions thats why they have been three phenomena that are difficult to match and difficult for them to come back. This is what speaks of Messi, that a champion is never satisfied, that he always wants more.
Next goals
Next season, the 37-year-old from Belgrade wants to win the 100 title of his career and the 25 Major to overtake Margaret Court in the all-time standings. The former world number 1 will most likely opt for a shortened schedule skipping many minor events, so as to reach 100% of the Grand Slam tournaments.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has reached only two finals this year, excluding of course the triumph at the Paris Olympics this summer. In the Wimbledon Championships final, Nole was literally outclassed by Alcaraz on the Centre Court. In the final of the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, Djokovic was defeated by Sinner in two sets before the eyes of Roger Federer. Despite the knee surgery being several months old, Novak continues to wear the protection and has admitted that he felt some pain in the last few tournaments. The Serb has not played since the 'Six Kings Slam' in Saudi Arabia.
