Novak Djokovic had long announced that he would not be playing much in the latter part of the season. His main goals in 2024 were the Grand Slam tournaments and the Paris Olympics, where he completed the puzzle and finally won the gold medal for his country. His performance in the final against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz will be remembered as one of the best of his legendary career, on a surface that was much more suited to his opponent’s style of play. That feat also affected Novak’s mind, who did not make it to the US Open and was eliminated in the first week.
Novak Djokovic, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
After the last Grand Slam of the season, the former world number 1 played the Davis Cup tie against Greece in Belgrade greeting all his fans. The 24-time Grand Slam champion then traveled to China to play in the Shanghai Masters 1000 five years after his last tournament, which was held in 2019.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade played a great tournament, but failed to take the 100th title of his career and gave up on current world number 1 Jannik Sinner in the final. Nole was one of the stars of the ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia, where he lost to Sinner again in a beautiful semifinal.
Nole is on vacation
A few days after the exhibition in Saudi Arabia, Novak announced that he would not defend his title at the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000. According to the latest rumors, Djokovic is not practicing at this time and has been spotted on vacation in Maldives with his family. Even if he qualifies for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Nole may decide to skip this event and prepare directly for 2025.
Djokovic© Djokovic Facebook/Fair Use
The Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 is very important for all other players who are looking to get a place in the last big event of the ATP season. Some excellent eliminations from the Paris-Bercy Master 1000, Andrey Rublev and Tommy Paul on all, have made a fifth participation for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin official. The American Taylor Fritz, already finalist at the US Open 2024 and winner of this year’s ATP in Delray Beach and Eastbourne, has qualified for the tournament of masters reserved to the best eight players in the world, scheduled from 10 to 17 November inside the Inalpi Arena.
A well-deserved milestone for the American ace, who brought back his great nation to play a Slam title: in fact, the United States were missing from the final act of a Major even from Wimbledon 2009 with Andy Roddick. Among the other important results achieved by the 27-year-old the final in Munich, the semi-finals at the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Shanghai, two quarterfinals at the Australian Open and right on the grass in London. In Italy you will certainly be faced with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.
Here is the updated ATP Race:
Jannik Sinner 10330
Carlos Alcaraz 6810
Alexander Zverev 6325
Daniil Medvedev 4830
Taylor Fritz 4300
Novak Djokovic 3910
Casper Ruud 3855
Andrey Rublev 3720
Alex de Minaur 3595
Grigor Dimitrov 3150
Tommy Paul 3145
Stefanos Tsitsipas 3065
Novak Djokovic’s qualification (still sixth) is getting closer and closer, even if his presence at the start of the competition is uncertain. Five players could potentially beat him by mid-November, but three need the win at Bercy (Dimitrov, Tsitsipas and Rune, who need to win the last ATP 250 on the calendar in order to still have hope of getting the pass). At the window Andrey Rublev, eighth and already eliminated from the main board of Paris: his margin on Alex de Minaur is rather narrow and could actually risk the place.
A tough choice
There is no doubt that 2025 will be crucial to see if Djokovic can win another Grand Slam title before the end of his career. In the latest edition of his podcast, tennis legend Jimmy Connors discussed Nole’s future: “It’s hard to me to say he has had a drop in motivation because he does everything over the course of his day to make him as good as can be. With his training and his eating, everything about his day is centred around tennis and being as good as he can be.
Novak Djokovic© YouTube screenshot
I am trying to say it the right way. Getting older is getting older. You have a lot of the young guys who are seeing maybe he’s not what he used to be, that old grey mare. A little vulnerable. He’s not quite playing up to the standard we are used to seeing. We talk Sinner and Alcaraz, but the only way he is going to say it’s time to go is if some of those other guys start stepping up too, or else he will keep hanging, and what’s wrong with that?”