Djokovic is almost certain to miss the biggest tournament of the year

Novak Djokovic will compete in just 1-2 events for the remainder of the season because of physical condition concerns.

In the early hours of October 19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Novak Djokovic had to withdraw from the third-place match at the Six Kings Slam 2025 against Taylor Fritz. The Serbian player lost the first set 6-7 after a tie-break in a set lasting 76 minutes, then shook hands with his opponent and announced his retirement due to insufficient fitness.

Previously, Djokovic had faced several health problems at the Shanghai Masters, suffering from injuries to his leg, back, and hip. These pains continued to trouble him during the Riyadh event, forcing the 38-year-old player to quit midway.

"I'm not feeling well. I apologize to everyone for not being able to continue playing. Now I need to rest and address my physical issues before considering a comeback.", Djokovic expressed with regret.

Nole also left open the possibility of participating in the remaining tournaments of 2025, stating he hopes to compete in some events if his health permits.

After losing to Valentin Vacherot in the Shanghai semifinals, Djokovic is almost certain not to participate in the Paris Masters. The veteran player revealed that the only tournament he plans to attend is the ATP 250 Athens Open — an event held for the first time from November 2 to 8.

"After Shanghai, the only confirmed event I will play is in Athens. As for whether I will participate in the ATP Finals in Turin, I am still uncertain.", he shared earlier.

The Paris Masters — the last ATP 1000 event of the year — is where Djokovic has achieved great success with 7 titles, a record, and his most recent victory there was in the 2023 season.

Fans are currently awaiting official updates on Djokovic’s recovery over the next two weeks, to see if the Serbian legend can return to the court in Athens or if he will have to end his season earlier than expected.

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