Novak Djokovic qualified for the 2025 ATP Finals but chose not to attend.
After winning the Hellenic Championship in Athens, Djokovic withdrew from the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin.
Home favorite Lorenzo Musetti took his place, having finished just five points outside the qualification places.
Musetti needed to win the title in Athens to guarantee himself a place in the tour finals, but came up just short, losing to Djokovic in a three-set final.
Looking back on their road to Turin, Musetti’s coach, Simone Tartarini, has revealed whether he had any idea that Djokovic planned to withdraw.
Novak Djokovic’s team had ‘rooms and flights’ booked for Turin – Simone Tartarini
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tartarini claimed that nobody knew that Djokovic was going to withdraw and hand Musetti a place in the tour finals.
“No. No one knew anything,” said Tartarini.
“We tried to figure it out all week. We joked with his team, who kept telling us that only Nole [Novak Djokovic] would decide, and at the last minute.
“They had booked everything for Turin, the rooms, the flights.
“At the beginning, we talked among the teams: no one knew anything, there was really no clue.”
Tartarini was then asked for his thoughts on those who have suggested Musetti didn’t deserve his place in the ATP Finals.
2025 ATP Race to Turin
| Rank | Name | 2025 Titles | Points | Status |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | 8 | 11,050 | Qualified |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | 5 | 10,000 | Qualified |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | 1 | 4,960 | Qualified |
| 4 | Novak Djokovic | 2 | 4,830 | Qualified (Withdrew) |
| 5 | Ben Shelton | 1 | 3,970 | Qualified |
| 6 | Taylor Fritz | 2 | 3,935 | Qualified |
| 7 | Alex de Minaur | 1 | 3,935 | Qualified |
| 8 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 3 | 3,845 | Qualified |
| 9 | Lorenzo Musetti | 0 | 3,840 | Alternate (Replaced Novak Djokovic) |
| 10 | Jack Draper | 1 | 2,990 | Injured |
“That’s nonsense. Lorenzo [Musetti] missed a lot of tournaments this season due to injuries, first in Monte Carlo, then the injury he suffered at Roland Garros, and finally the illness at Wimbledon,” he said.
“With a few more tournaments, he would have easily been in the top five of the Race.”
Tartarini may well have a point, as his pupil sat fifth in the race when the clay-court season finished.
Had he been fit for the grass-court season, Musetti could quite easily have qualified without the need of a Djokovic withdrawal.
The fact is that he did qualify, but how well did he perform on his ATP Finals debut?
Lorenzo Musetti finished bottom of his ATP Finals group
Musetti began his ATP Finals campaign with a tough match against American star Taylor Fritz.
Just two days removed from his defeat to Djokovic in Athens, Musetti lost to Fritz in two sets, 3-6, 4-6.
Returning to the court for his second round robin match, Musetti took on Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who was also searching for his first win at the tour finals.
The Aussie served for the match, but couldn’t get over the line, as Musetti beat De Minaur in a thrilling three-setter.
Going into the final match of the group stages with a 1-1 record, Musetti knew that only a win over the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, would send him through to the semis.
Unfortunately, despite playing some excellent tennis in the first set, he failed in his bid to reach the last four, losing 4-6, 1-6,
On his ATP Finals debut, Musetti finished fourth in the Jimmy Connors Group.
Jimmy Connors Group standings
| Rank | Name | Record | Sets (W-L) | Games (W-L) |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | 3-0 | 6-1 | 44-28 |
| 2 | Alex de Minaur | 1-2 | 3-4 | 37-39 |
| 3 | Taylor Fritz | 1-2 | 3-4 | 36-39 |
| 4 | Lorenzo Musetti | 1-2 | 2-5 | 29-40 |
He’d no doubt love to return in 2026 and improve his record at the event, but only time will tell if he can qualify.
Withdrawing from the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, Musetti won’t play again this year, as he now rests up ahead of his 2026 campaign.
Musetti is likely to return in the build-up to the 2026 Australian Open, which begins on Monday, January 12.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
