ADELAIDE – The tennis world was hit with a significant shock today as world No. 4 Novak Djokovic officially withdrew from the Adelaide International, just one week before the tournament was set to begin. The 24-time Grand Slam champion cited a lack of “physical readiness” as the primary reason for his departure from the ATP 250 event.
“Not Quite Ready”
Djokovic, who was the top seed for the Adelaide tournament, shared the news via a heartfelt statement on Instagram on Monday night.
“To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I am not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,” Djokovic wrote. “It’s personally very disappointing to me as I have such great memories of winning the title there [in 2023]. I was really excited about returning as it truly felt like playing at home.”
The 38-year-old Serbian legend has not played a competitive tour match since his victory over Lorenzo Musetti at the Hellenic Championship in early November. This latest withdrawal follows a pattern of injury concerns; he was forced to skip the 2025 ATP Finals due to a shoulder issue and famously retired from his 2025 Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring tear.
The Road to a 25th Major
Djokovic’s decision to skip his only scheduled warm-up event means he will arrive at Melbourne Park without any match practice in the new season. This puts his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and an 11th Australian Open crown under a cloud of uncertainty.
- Last Major Win: 2023 US Open.
2025 Performance: Reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slams but failed to secure a trophy. - Current Focus: Rebuilding his physical condition to withstand the rigors of a best-of-five set tournament.
Impact on Adelaide International
Organizers of the Adelaide event expressed disappointment at losing their biggest drawcard. With Djokovic out, American Tommy Paul is expected to move into the top-seeded position. The withdrawal also follows that of Britain’s Jack Draper, further thinning the field for the January 12 start.
Off-Court Stir
The withdrawal comes during a busy week for Djokovic. Just 24 hours prior, he announced he was stepping away from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the union he co-founded in 2020. Djokovic cited “concerns regarding transparency and governance” as the reasons for cutting ties with the organization.
The Australian Open is scheduled to begin on January 18 Fans will be watching closely to see if the “king of Melbourne” can recover in time to challenge younger rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
