Djokovic Withdraws from Paris Masters Amidst Injury Concerns
A leg injury has forced tennis superstar Novak Djokovic to withdraw from next week’s Paris Masters, the 24-time Grand Slam champion announced Tuesday on social media. The withdrawal comes just days after the 38-year-old halted play during an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about his fitness as the season nears its close.
The news casts a shadow over Djokovic’s late-season schedule and adds to a pattern of limited appearances throughout 2025. He has participated in only eight ATP Tour events outside of the four major championships this year.
Djokovic reached the semifinal stage at each of the year’s Grand Slam tournaments – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open – demonstrating his continued competitiveness at the highest level. However, from late May through late September, his competitive focus was exclusively on those prestigious Slams.
His most recent official tournament appearance, the Shanghai Masters, was hampered by a sore hip, ultimately contributing to his exit in the semifinals. He then participated in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, where he suffered a loss to Jannik Sinner in the opening round. Following a bye, Djokovic attempted to compete for third place against Taylor Fritz, but was unable to continue after completing only one set.
The ATP Finals, scheduled for November 9-16 in Turin, Italy, represent the final major event of the season. Djokovic had qualified for the tournament but chose to skip it in 2024, a decision that fueled speculation about his workload management. His current injury status now throws his participation in the 2025 Finals into question.
The frequency of injury setbacks and limited tournament appearances raise questions about Djokovic’s ability to maintain his dominance as he enters the later stages of his career. The tennis world will be closely watching for updates on his condition and whether he will be fit to compete in Turin.
