As everyone knows, Novak Djokovic announced his decision not to participate in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin only at the last moment, allowing Lorenzo Musetti to enter the last event of the season as the ninth qualifier.
The former world number 1 - who had also missed this event in the last edition - did not want to dispel the doubt about his presence in Turin until the day before the start of the tournament and also created problems for the organizers. It is no coincidence that the order of play for the first two days was only announced on Friday in Serbia. If Musetti had known that Nole had no intention of participating in the Finals, it is likely that he would not have played the Athens ATP 250 last week.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion seemed intent on competing in Turin this year, but cited a shoulder injury as justification for his withdrawal. Everyone knows that the Majors are Novak's only goal at this stage of his career and the collective feeling is that the 38-year-old from Belgrade did not want to stress his body further after the tremendous battle against Musetti in the final of the tournament in Athens last Saturday. He ended a 2025 season in which he lifted two trophies (in Geneva and Athens respectively), as well as reaching the semifinals in the four Grand Slam tournaments (becoming the oldest player ever to achieve this feat).
Djokovic's controversial choice
As was quite predictable, Djokovic's choice to skip an important event like the Finals again this year has divided public opinion and insiders.
Speaking to the 'Tennis Channel', former world No.1 Jim Courier defended the Serbian veteran from criticism: "I think Nole has earned the right to decide when to play and the right to retire whenever he wants. I know that many did not approve of his decision, but we are not in his mind. Unless you know the situation from within his team, it's impossible to make an unbiased judgment."
