For the first time in history, only six players posed for the finals photo, sparking outrage among fans over ATP's controversial move: Where is Djokovic?

Recently, ATP found itself in hot water after fans noticed a major issue with the official year-end finals photo: Novak Djokovic was missing. This annual shoot, held in Turin, is one of the most beloved pre-tournament traditions where the top eight players of the season gather for a group photo before the competition begins. However, this year’s picture caused confusion and criticism on social media rather than excitement.

The photo session took place at night in Turin, producing a stunning visual with laser beams, shining blue lights, and the ATP Finals trophy positioned prominently in the center. The trophy represents the glory players have fought for throughout the year — a tall silver cup with broad handles, sharp edges, and the clear ATP logo. Everything in the shot was perfect except for the noticeable absence of several key faces. Of course, Alcaraz and Sinner stole the spotlight, dressed sharply in dark suits and wearing confident smiles.

Joining them were Zverev, Fritz, Shelton, and Deminor, all impeccably dressed and ready for the upcoming finals. This was supposed to be a celebration of tennis, but fans quickly raised the same question: “Where is Novak?” The player with 24 Grand Slam titles was completely missing from the photo. His absence seemed very strange since the ATP Finals are meant to bring together all eight qualifiers, and he was not the only one missing.

Aliassime — and possibly Musetti if he fails to qualify — also did not appear in the photo. This upset fans even more because they believed all qualified players should participate in such a symbolic moment. Fans felt it was unfair and questioned how ATP could exclude a legendary figure like Djokovic from a photo representing the season’s best. Once the photo was posted online, disappointed reactions quickly spread.

One fan commented, “What’s the point if not all players show up? The Finals should be a celebration of the season’s best, yet two players didn’t even get the chance to join.” Every player reaching this stage has worked incredibly hard, but Djokovic’s absence still left a sense of regret. The 2025 season has been tough on him physically; at 38, he has faced more challenges than before, such as withdrawing from the Australian Open semifinals due to a muscle tear.

An eye issue at the Miami Open worsened his condition, and by the end of the season, his fatigue was more apparent. After losing in Shanghai, he even missed important tournaments like the Paris Masters, raising concerns among fans about his endurance. Despite this, Djokovic qualified for the Turin Finals, though his participation was uncertain at times — now confirmed. After advancing to the final in Athens on Saturday, he barely had time to recover before his first group match in Turin on Monday. Due to this tight schedule, he likely missed the official player photo event.

Another fan remarked, “Honestly, who are half of these people? What are they even doing here?” Others said, “What is this nonsense? Half of these players shouldn’t even be here.”

However, the truth is every player earned their spot on merit. The Jimmy Connors group includes Alcaraz, Djokovic, Fritz, and Deminor; the Bjorn Borg group features Sinner, Zverev, Shelton, and the final qualifier: either Aliassime or Musetti.

Each player qualified for Turin through their performance. Alcaraz was the first to secure his spot after reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in July; Sinner solidified his place a month later with season points; Zverev qualified after a deep run in Vienna in October; Deminor secured his second consecutive Finals spot following the Paris Masters; Fritz and Shelton made it to the top eight thanks to consistent play and strong finishes; and the last spot was fiercely contested between Aliassime and Musetti. Every name on this list is truly deserving.

Another fan wrote, “Whether Felix or Lorenzo qualifies, it’s unfortunate they missed the photo and other events due to scheduling conflicts after working hard all year. I hope this issue disappears next year since the qualification list will be finalized at the Paris Masters.”

By early November, seven spots were confirmed, with the last still undecided. Aliassime leads narrowly with 3,845 points, followed closely by Musetti at 3,735 — just 110 points apart in a fierce battle. One fan sighed, “No Novak? Then I don’t even want to watch.” Clearly a devoted Djokovic supporter, but honestly, Djokovic is still fighting, and those who know him understand he will never quit the battle.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)