Photos of
Novak Djokovic on the beaches of the Maldives may suggest the end of his 2024
season and a potential absence from the ATP Finals. The 24-time Grand Slam
champion remains 6th in the Race, despite withdrawing from the Paris Masters,
leaving his ATP Finals qualification in doubt.
Nonetheless,
he is still best positioned for one of the three remaining spots thanks to his
3,910 points. Close behind are Casper Ruud (3,855), Alex de Minaur (3,745),
Andrey Rublev (3,729), and Grigor Dimitrov (3,340).
Djokovic signals shift in career focus
The former
world No. 1 won the ATP Finals for a seventh time in 2023, though he has
acknowledged that his interest in the event has waned. “Turin is not my goal at
all, to be honest, I am not chasing the ATP Finals; I am not chasing the
rankings,” Djokovic said after playing for Serbia in the Davis Cup in
September. Serbia was eliminated early in the year and secured a spot for the
2025 qualifiers, so they will not be among the eight finalists in Malaga.
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“As far as
I am concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will
play in other tournaments this year or in the future, I can’t say right now,”
Djokovic added. “My main priorities are playing for the national team and Grand
Slams; everything else is less important.”
“Djokovic can still win Grand Slams in 2025”
Recently,
former coach of Serena Williams, Patrick Mouratoglou, commented in an interview
with Tennis365 that despite Djokovic’s uncertain year, he cannot be ruled out
as a candidate for major titles in 2025: “I think he had a very bad year, but
it came after an incredible year,” Mouratoglou said. “Let’s not forget that
only last year he won three Grand Slams and played in the final of the fourth.
So we shouldn’t forget that was just one year ago, not ten years ago.”
“He won the
Olympics, which was his main focus this year, defeating Carlos [Alcaraz] in the
final, playing fantastic tennis, so he is not far off,” said the current coach
of Naomi Osaka.
“I think he
can beat them (Sinner and Alcaraz). It’s very difficult, and while the margin
has narrowed, it’s still there,” Mouratoglou added. “When he plays them, I
think anyone can win, but I don’t think he’s far behind. I think he can still
win Grand Slams, I’m sure of it.”
“For Novak,
it’s only about his motivation,” Mouratoglou added. “I understand that he
struggles with it at the moment because his whole career was about surpassing
the other two and being better than them; that was his lifelong fight in
tennis, and he won it.”
Read also
“So to keep
his motivation now, it’s very difficult. With Rafa retiring, that’s been a
challenge the entire year, and that’s how I see it. I don’t know if I’m right,
but this year has been tough for Novak,” he added. “From the start of the
season, you could see that Rafa was struggling a lot, and it probably occurred
to him, ‘Well, I won.’
“When you
fight all your life for something and finally achieve it, where do you find the
motivation?" Mouratoglou stated. "So I hope
this challenging year is something he can use to fuel his motivation and return
next year as strong as before, because then we’ll have a showdown among the
three of them that will be incredible—and I want to see it.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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