Novak Djokovic will make Australian Open warm-up appearance after all with season opener confirmed

Novak Djokovic has been confirmed for the upcoming Adelaide International at the last minute, following his absence from the tournament's initial entry list. All indications previously suggested that the 24-time Grand Slam champion would opt to skip warm-up tournaments leading into the Australian Open, but he has ultimately joined the ATP 250 field. The draw is already set to feature high-caliber players such as Jack Draper, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Matteo Berrettini, making for a highly competitive week.

The Serbian star had not appeared on the preliminary lists for the events preceding the year's first major, following the release of the Brisbane entry list—a tournament he participated in during 2024—and the United Cup lineup, where "Nole" began his season in 2023. This late addition suggests a change in strategy for Djokovic, who seemingly decided he needed competitive match play before heading to Melbourne Park.

One year ago, Nole kicked off his season at the Brisbane International. On his path to the quarterfinals, he defeated Rinky Hijikata and Gael Monfils, only to fall in a surprise upset to American Reilly Opelka. That appearance served as his sole preparatory tournament for the Australian Open. He also made a notable appearance in doubles, teaming up with Nick Kyrgios—who was returning to the Tour after a year and a half injured. They managed to surpass the first round against specialists Erler and Miedler before falling to top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.

The Adelaide International will host its eighth edition, with Felix Auger-Aliassime returning as the defending champion after defeating Sebastian Korda in the 2025 final. Djokovic himself previously claimed the title at Adelaide International 1 back in 2023, during a period when two editions of the tournament were played back-to-back at the start of the year. In that final, Nole defeated the same Korda in a grueling three-set battle to lift the trophy.

Heading into the 2026 season, where Djokovic will turn 38, the legendary Serbian tennis player understands that the priority at this stage of his career is maintaining physical health. This focus takes precedence even over the recent dominance exerted by both Italian Jannik Sinner and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the latest Grand Slams. Djokovic aims to manage his body carefully to peak at the most critical moments of the calendar.

To support this goal, the 38-year-old has reinforced his inner circle with the hiring of renowned Australian-based performance trainer Mark Kovacs. Kovacs will be charged with the difficult task of keeping Djokovic at 100% fitness and away from injuries. This strategic addition highlights Djokovic's commitment to extending his career and remaining competitive against a field of players nearly two decades his junior.

Djokovic will seek to be a protagonist in the Grand Slams once again, after falling consecutively in the semifinals of all four majors during 2025. He aims to break that semifinal barrier to fight for his historic 25th major title. The Serbian is guaranteed to start his path in Melbourne as the 4th seed, a crucial ranking that allows him to avoid Jannik Sinner—the defending champion—and top seed Carlos Alcaraz until a potential semifinal duel.