Novak Djokovic’s path to the ATP Finals in Turin has opened up significantly, thanks to a series of key losses by his rivals in the Race to Turin. Despite Djokovic’s public insistence that he’s no longer focused on qualifying for this prestigious year-end event, circumstances have shifted in his favor, making his potential appearance in Turin more likely. The seven-time ATP Finals champion, known for his relentless pursuit of excellence throughout his career, has taken a different approach this year, opting for a reduced tournament schedule in favor of focusing on the biggest events: the Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic Games in Paris, where he won gold for Serbia.
Djokovic’s reduced participation in regular tour events has been part of a deliberate strategy. At this stage of his career, having already established himself as one of the greatest players of all time, the Serbian star has chosen to prioritize his physical well-being and peak performance at select tournaments, particularly the Grand Slams. This approach was evident when he skipped several ATP Tour events to concentrate on representing his country in the Davis Cup and preparing for the Olympics. With his goals shifting away from rankings and tour titles, Djokovic has openly stated that the ATP Finals is not a priority for him.
“Torino is not my goal at all, to be honest. I am not chasing ATP Finals; I am not chasing the rankings,” Djokovic said recently, making it clear that his focus lies elsewhere. “As far as I am concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will play in other tournaments this year or in the future, I can’t say right now. My main priorities are playing for the national team and slams; everything else is less important.”
While Djokovic has declared that qualifying for Turin is not at the forefront of his mind, the opportunity to compete in the ATP Finals has fallen into his lap due to a combination of his own strong performances and the missteps of his rivals. Earlier in the season, Djokovic’s position in the Race to Turin rankings seemed precarious, as he found himself outside the top eight players who qualify for the prestigious event. However, his remarkable run to the Shanghai Masters final, where he ultimately lost to rising star Jannik Sinner, gave him a significant boost in the ATP Race standings, propelling him into the sixth spot.
Even with this rise in the rankings, Djokovic remained uncertain about whether he would participate in additional ATP Tour events leading up to Turin, leaving the door open for other players to overtake him in the standings. Yet fortune has smiled on Djokovic as the players just behind him—Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Alex de Minaur—suffered key defeats in their recent matches, failing to capitalize on Djokovic’s absence from the tour.
On Friday, all three of Djokovic’s closest competitors in the ATP Race were knocked out of their respective tournaments, weakening their chances of closing the gap. Rublev, who was sitting just below Djokovic in the Race, was defeated in a tight match by Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka at the Nordic Open in Stockholm. Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion known for his grit and resilience, showed flashes of his former brilliance to win 7-6(5), 7-6(5) against Rublev. “The key was to stay focused and positive with myself,” Wawrinka said after the match. “Andrey is such an amazing player, but I was feeling good on the court, I was moving well. I could start to dictate a little bit, and with so much support from the crowd, it is easier to fight on the court.”
Casper Ruud, currently in seventh place in the ATP Race, also faced an early exit in Stockholm, as he was upset by Tallon Griekspoor, who played an inspired match to defeat the Norwegian. Ruud, who had been hoping to gain valuable points in the race to secure his spot in Turin, will now need to regroup and refocus as he heads into the final stretch of the season. His defeat means he missed an opportunity to make up ground on Djokovic, leaving him vulnerable as the ATP Finals draw closer.
Meanwhile, in Antwerp, Alex de Minaur’s hopes of qualifying for Turin took a hit when he was ousted by Frenchman Hugo Gaston in a thrilling three-set match. Gaston, known for his creative shot-making and quick footwork, edged out De Minaur 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to move into the semifinals of the ATP 250 event in Antwerp. De Minaur, who had been in contention for one of the final spots in Turin, will now need to deliver strong performances in the upcoming weeks to keep his qualification hopes alive.
Rublev, Ruud, and De Minaur all have a chance to rebound next week, as they are set to compete in ATP 500 tournaments in Basel and Vienna. These events offer valuable ranking points that could still impact the Race to Turin standings. Rublev and Ruud will compete in Basel, while De Minaur will aim to make his mark in Vienna. Yet despite their efforts, the path to the ATP Finals has cleared significantly for Djokovic, who remains in pole position to qualify for the tournament.
The final major event of the regular ATP season is the Paris Masters, and Djokovic has yet to confirm whether he will participate. Given his current standing, even without playing additional tournaments, his place in Turin seems increasingly secure. His competitors will need extraordinary performances in the coming weeks to dislodge him from his qualifying position.
Whether or not Djokovic ultimately decides to compete in Turin, his presence on the court is always a significant draw for fans. His reduced schedule has only heightened the anticipation around his appearances, with each tournament he plays taking on an almost mythic quality as he continues to chase history. As one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Djokovic’s potential participation in the ATP Finals would undoubtedly add even more excitement to what is already one of the most prestigious events in tennis.