Overview
- Novak Djokovic announced on Instagram that he will not play next week’s Adelaide International, saying he is not quite physically ready to compete.
- He said his focus shifts to preparing for the Australian Open, which begins January 18, and he is set to enter as the fourth seed without any official warm-up matches.
- His last tour match was a win over Lorenzo Musetti in Athens on November 8, followed by a withdrawal from the ATP Finals citing a shoulder issue.
- At 38, Djokovic has managed a lighter schedule after recent physical setbacks, including retiring from the 2025 Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev.
- The withdrawal reshapes the Adelaide field, leaving the event without a top-10 player and positioning Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as top seed, while Djokovic also recently left the PTPA over transparency and governance concerns.