Novak Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has been making headlines recently with his participation in the lucrative *Six Kings Slam* exhibition event in Saudi Arabia. Despite chasing the big money in Riyadh, Djokovic has received some major boosts in his bid to qualify for the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin, which will be held next month.
While his focus at this stage of his career remains firmly on adding to his remarkable tally of 24 Grand Slam titles and leading Serbia to Davis Cup glory, Djokovic has made it clear that qualifying for the ATP Finals is no longer a primary concern for him. His remarks after playing for Serbia in the Davis Cup last month seemed to indicate that he isn’t particularly focused on competing in the season-ending event.
When asked about his ambitions for the ATP Finals, Djokovic downplayed its importance, saying, “Torino is not my goal at all, to be honest. I am not chasing the ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings. 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.”
These comments were surprising to some, especially considering that Djokovic is the reigning ATP Finals champion, having defeated Italy’s Jannik Sinner in last year’s final in Turin. Yet the Serbian superstar seems to be content with his monumental career achievements and is looking to shift his focus away from events like the ATP Finals, choosing instead to prioritize the biggest prizes in tennis, namely Grand Slam titles and team events like the Davis Cup.
However, despite Djokovic’s apparent lack of interest in chasing ATP points or rankings, his recent performances have placed him in an excellent position to qualify for the ATP Finals once again. Just a few weeks ago, Djokovic was far off the pace in the ATP Race standings, where the top eight players of the season qualify for the year-end event in Turin. But a strong run at the ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai, where he reached the final, has catapulted him into 6th place in the Race standings, solidifying his chances of making it to the ATP Finals.
While Djokovic has been enjoying success on the court, many of his closest competitors have faltered. Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Alex de Minaur, the three players immediately behind Djokovic in the ATP Race, all failed to make a significant impact in their respective tournaments last week. Rublev, who had a chance to close the gap on Djokovic, came up short in his event, while Ruud and de Minaur were also unable to claim the points they needed to strengthen their bid for Turin.
The inability of these players to capitalize on their opportunities has only boosted Djokovic’s standing, leaving him in a favorable position as the race to qualify for the ATP Finals enters its final stages. De Minaur, who is the second seed at the ATP 500 event in Vienna this week, faces a tricky first-round match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Meanwhile, Rublev and Ruud will both be competing in Basel, Switzerland, where they could potentially face each other later in the tournament in what could be a decisive match for their ATP Finals hopes. Rublev, the top seed, will take on Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the opening round, while Ruud, seeded second, faces veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
As the season nears its end, all eyes will be on the Paris Masters, the final ATP 1000 event of the year, which is likely to decide the remaining spots for the ATP Finals. Djokovic, however, may not even need to compete in Paris if his position in the standings remains secure. Given his recent injuries, which have affected his performance both in Shanghai and at the Six Kings Slam, Djokovic may opt to skip the Paris event if he can qualify for Turin without the need for additional ranking points.
It’s a testament to Djokovic’s enduring brilliance that even in a season where he has not been at his absolute best, he remains in pole position to qualify for the ATP Finals. Despite battling injuries and admitting that his priorities have shifted away from events like the ATP Finals, Djokovic’s excellence has ensured that he is still a force to be reckoned with on the tour.
As Djokovic looks ahead to 2025, his focus will undoubtedly be on achieving more Grand Slam success and leading Serbia to victory in the Davis Cup, where they will compete in the Finals in Malaga. But before that, Djokovic could very well add another ATP Finals title to his already staggering list of achievements, even if he isn’t actively chasing it. Should he decide to play in Turin, it will be fascinating to see whether the Serbian legend can once again prove that he is the king of the season-ending championships, even in what he has described as the final phase of his remarkable career.