“I bet you lunch that he ain’t showing up in Turin,” just yesterday Andy Roddick raised doubts if Novak Djokovic would turn up for the ATP Finals or not. Those speculations can finally rest; the Serb took it upon himself to address the situation firsthand, notably during his family vacation in Maldives.

With substantially fewer titles for the season, it’s safe to say that Nole enjoyed a modest run this year. He reached the final of a Grand Slam event at Wimbledon and later, concluded his long-drawn quest of fetching the elusive Olympic gold. After finishing runner-up in Shanghai and locking horns with arch-nemesis Rafael Nadal for the last time in Riyadh, the Serb shocked fans with an abrupt Paris Masters withdrawal. While his non-attendance elicited many to speculate what’s next, Djokovic has now finally announced that he won’t be back till 2025.

In an Instagram story, the former World No. 1 confirmed that he would skip the year-end ATP Finals championship owing to unknown injury concerns. “It’s quite an honor to qualify for the @nittoatpfinals in Turin. I was looking forward to be there, but due to an ongoing injury, I won’t be playing next week. Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

Djokovic hasn’t disclosed the nature of his injury, but it might be the same injury that has been troubling him since the French Open. While the Serb underwent surgery and played two Grand Slams after that, he still faced discomfort with his knee while playing in the Shanghai Masters last month.

This update by Djokovic will not come off as a shocker for many, as the Serbian star snubbed his chances of participation in Turin after playing for Serbia in the Davis Cup in September itself.” Turin is not my goal at all, to be honest, I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings,” Djokovic said. That makes sense. Nole is targeting Slams and will likely not settle for anything less. But, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Moreover, the reasons behind his recent absence from the tour were adequately voiced by the Serb.

Novak Djokovic wishes to spend more time with his family

No one dodges family duties. However, some aren’t able to schedule themselves for their loved ones at the drop of the hat owing to outstanding professional commitments. Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic is one of those people. After dedicating his life to the sport for several decades, the former World No. 1 wishes to reap the benefits of his stellar legacy. He wants to spend quality time with his family and two children, Stefan and Tara.

During an exclusive feature with ‘LA NACION in October, Djokovic expressed being the ideal father for his children and catering to their needs in person without any hindrances. “It is important they see me as a father in the real sense of the word, as a father who is at home, with them, who follows the routine, the time to go to bed, to get up, take them to school, talk to them about life, play with them. That’s the person I want to be,” Djokovic said.

The 2024 season is officially wrapped up for the Serbian maestro. With no impending doubts about upcoming participation in his calendar, he will relax and recoup before returning to the court in 2025. Fans can expect the former World No. 1 to showcase his athletic prowess next at the Australian Open. Will he be able to add to his Grand Slams’ tally next year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.