It will soon be time for the ATP Finals to take centre-stage for the top male tennis players and much is being made of Novak Djokovic and his potential participation.
Turin will host the event again and Djokovic has last year’s crown to defend following his win over Jannik Sinner in the final at the end of 2023.
However, there has been some talk that he might not play in the end-of-year finals this year and choose to skip the event in preparation for 2025.
By his standards, it’s been a barren year for Djokovic. He’s not added to his tally of Grand Slam titles, although he did win the gold media in Paris at the Olympics.
Now, with the tournament to take place later this month, his involvement in the event is becoming a topic of discussion and nothing is set in stone at this stage.
Andy Roddick shares whether he thinks Novak Djokovic will play in ATP Finals
Roddick isn’t at all convinced that Djokovic will play in the ATP Finals that take place later this month in Turin.
He doesn’t believe that he’s played enough in the run-up to the event, claiming that it would now be a surprise should he make it.
The Serbian could choose to prepare properly for next year instead as he looks to claim another Grand Slam as he prepares for his final years on the circuit.
Roddick said on the Tennis Channel live podcast: “Let’s base this off of what he said rather than what we said. He said three weeks ago he doesn’t think he is going to play year-end finals again, so my opinion naturally is that I don’t think he is ever going to play year-end finals again.
“You don’t often go from Maldives to year-end finals, that would be a new point of origin in the finals playing process. But Novak is at the point of his career where he gets to play when he is motivated, he is not going to be interested in making a semi of any event. He wants to win slams, that’s it.
“I also was the dummy who thought three weeks wasn’t enough time for him to play in Wimbledon and what does he do? Go and play the final.
“So nothing would surprise me, but I bet you lunch that he won’t turn up in Turin.”
Novak Djokovic record in ATP Finals event
It would be easy to understand why he would want to play in the event given that he’s got a spectacular record.
He’s won the crown on no fewer than seven occasions and has also reached two other finals but lost them both.
| Result | Year | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 2008 | Nikolay Davydenko | W 6-1, 7-5 |
| Win | 2012 | Roger Federer | W 7-6, 7-5 |
| Win | 2013 | Rafael Nadal | W 6-3, 6-4 |
| Win | 2014 | Roger Federer | W – W/O |
| Win | 2015 | Roger Federer | W 6-3, 6-4 |
| Lost | 2016 | Andy Murray | L 3-6, 4-6 |
| Lose | 2018 | Alexander Zverev | L 4-6, 3-6 |
| Won | 2022 | Casper Ruud | W 7-5, 6-3 |
| Won | 2023 | Jannik Sinner | W 6-3, 6-3 |
Djokovic will choose to prioritise these days though and perhaps this year just doesn’t feel right for him when it comes to his fitness.
The 37-year-old has basically been playing with a knee brace on for the final months of the year and resting up is perhaps the way to go here.
Djokovic might view this event has small fry these days and it will be interesting to see what he decides upon in the coming weeks.
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