Jannik Sinner regrets Novak Djokovic’s absence from ATP Finals: “He will be missed by everyone”

Jannik Sinner regrets the absence of Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals in Turin, saying, "he will be missed by everyone." The 24-time Grand Slam champion announced on Tuesday that he will not compete in this year’s edition due to an injury, without providing further details.

Throughout the season, Djokovic's qualification for the tournament, which gathers the season’s top eight players, remained uncertain. However, it was confirmed last week that he had secured a place in the Finals, where he has claimed seven titles between 2008 and 2023.

“It’s quite an honour to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin,” Djokovic wrote on his Instagram story. “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to an ongoing injury, I won’t be playing next week. Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

This will be the first time since 2001 that none of the Big-3 players are competing, marking a shift in eras. Djokovic had appeared in 16 of the last 17 editions, with his only absence in 2017, a year marked by injuries that forced him to end his season early.

Top favourite and local star Jannik Sinner lamented that the Italian fans won’t have the chance to see Djokovic in Turin again. “Nole gave so much to the Italian public, and people wanted to see him play,” the 2-time Grand Slam champion said. “We are very sorry he is not here, but this is sports; sometimes players miss tournaments.”

“The season has been long, and in any case, there are eight great players here. We hope it will be a great tournament. Nole will be missed by everyone,” added the 23-year-old.

With the groups drawn, Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex De Minaur in the Ilie Nastase Group. Regarding his toughest opponent in the draw, Sinner did not pick a specific player. “Difficult question; they are the eight best of the season. Honestly, all of them,” he remarked.