Djokovic close to Securing ATP Finals berth despite Paris withdrawal: Will he choose to compete?

After withdrawing from the Paris Masters, Novak Djokovic now faces a decision about his participation in the ATP Finals, should he qualify, or he might clear the way for his rivals in the ATP Race to Turin.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is currently sixth in the Race, and Paris was his last chance to secure a spot in the ATP Finals. However, his absence from the season’s final Masters 1000 event could cost him a place in Turin, though this doesn’t seem to be a top priority for Nole.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be playing the Paris Masters this year,” the former world No. 1 shared on Instagram. “I have a lot of great memories, winning seven titles, and I hope to be back with you next year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me there.”

Djokovic has 3,910 points, ahead of his closest competitors Casper Ruud (3,855) and Andrey Rublev (3,720). Ruud needs just one win to surpass Djokovic, while Rublev would need to reach at least the quarterfinals, both of which could push the Serbian down the rankings.

Among players with the best chance to overtake Djokovic—though currently outside the top eight—are Alex De Minaur (3,555), who must reach the semifinals to surpass him. Grigor Dimitrov (3,160), Tommy Paul (3,145), and Stefanos Tsitsipas (2,975) have an even tougher task; they would need to win the title to overtake Djokovic.

Djokovic has not commented on his participation in the ATP Finals. Given that he could have secured qualification in Paris by advancing just a couple of rounds, his intentions for Turin seem uncertain. In fact, Djokovic has mentioned multiple times that in this final phase of his career, he’s focused on Grand Slam tournaments and competitions representing Serbia, such as the Davis Cup, with ranking now being a lower priority.