The Masters Cup is set to kick off the 2024 edition, which runs from November 10-17, and the year’s top eight racquets have gathered in Turin, Italy, to put the final touch to a season full of tournaments. all over the world, including the Olympic Games. Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, surprisingly chose, for not having played the last ATP Championship of the year and, therefore, he will not be able to defend his crown on Italian lands.
Why won’t Djokovic be at the ATP Finals?
Despite finishing the year in fifth place in the world rankings, the winner of 24 Grand Slam tournaments confirmed in a statement that he will not participate in the 2024 edition of the ATP Finals due to ‘A “continuing injury”he will therefore not be able to face the already confirmed tennis players: Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Álex de Miñaur and Andrey Rublev.
“It is an honor to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. I was really looking forward to it, but due to my ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week. My apologies to everyone who had planned to see me. I wish all players an excellent tournament. See you soon,” said the tennis player from Belgrade, who also regretted the lost opportunity to defend his crown at the Alpine Arena.
Who will be crowned king 👑 #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/raI3hoggou
-ATP Tour (@atptour) November 9, 2024
The champion will lose his crown
Novak Djokovic, after confirming his withdrawal from the 2024 Masters Cup, will not be able to defend the crown which he achieved consecutively in 2022 and 2023. The Serbian succeeded Alexander Zverev, proclaimed master in 2021 after beating Daniil Medvedev by a double 6-4, after quickly getting rid of Casper Ruud, by 7-5 and 6-3, and Jannik Sinner, 6-4 and 6-4. Note that ‘Nole’, with 7 trophies, He is the tennis player with the most titles of this caliber in his possession.surpassing players of the stature of Roger Federer on the list, with 6, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras, with 5, or Ilie Nastase, with 4, among others.
A dream season
If there is something that Novak Djokovic will remember from the 2024 season, it is the victory he achieved in the Roland Garros facilities. Precisely, the first thing that would come to mind would be the title of the Coupe des Mousquetaires. But it’s much more than the second Grand Slam trophy of the year. We don’t talk about anything more or less gold medal obtained last summer after beating, against all expectations, Carlos Alcaraz, who arrived at the Paris Olympic Games by throwing after having managed to climb to the highest step of the podium at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
The one from Belgrade, in tears, recognized that it was the “the greatest achievement of his career”: “These are the most intense emotions I have experienced on a tennis court. I’m just sharing my thoughts, emotions and reflective experiences about what it’s like for me, I think now when I look back, the biggest achievement and highlight of my entire career, winning the gold medal for Serbia.