New Strategy? Novak Djokovic's big schedule changes for the new season as he confirms Doha Open appearance

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has been confirmed in the entry list for the ATP 500 Qatar Open in February 2025. The Serbian player is returning to the Doha five years later, marking a new shift in his calendar compared to recent years.

The 38-year-old has typically taken a few weeks off after the Australian Open, which ends on January 26, since 2017, making some appearances in Dubai in the last week of February (2020, 2022, 2023). In the other years, he has remained out of competition until Indian Wells in March.

This time, he will play the Doha Open again after five years, which will take place from February 14, shortening his rest period after the Aussie Open. In his previous participation in 2019, the tournament was in a different position on the calendar, as it was held in the first week of January, serving as a preparatory tournament for the year's first Grand Slam.

This year, Djokovic seems willing to make the necessary changes to contend for major titles again, which he has identified as his primary focus at this stage of his career. His hiring of Andy Murray as a coach has signaled to his rivals that he aims to regain ground on the Tour, and the adjustments to his calendar are more about finding his best level of play than accumulating points for the ranking.

A week ago, his confirmation to play in the Brisbane International before the Australian Open raised eyebrows, unlike in 2024 when he traveled directly to Melbourne to start the season at the first major of the year.

Djokovic's confirmation in the tournament is not the only big name set to be part of the draw, as he will be joined by Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev. This is a significant upgrade in terms of big names, considering that last year Rublev was the only player from the top 15 in the draw. The defending champion is Karen Khachanov, who defeated young star Jakub Mensik in the final (7-6, 6-4).