Djokovic skips Paris Masters for the second consecutive year

Novak Djokovic is expected to compete solely in the ATP 250 event in Greece and the ATP Finals during the final phase of the 2025 season.

Novak Djokovic will not take part in the Paris Masters—the last ATP 1000 event of the year—for the second year in a row. This was confirmed after he continued to face fitness issues, disappointing fans who hoped to see the 38-year-old legend return to the tournament where he once dominated.

Djokovic is the most successful player in the history of the Paris Masters with 7 titles, including 3 championships in his last 5 appearances. However, he withdrew from last year's tournament and will also miss this year's event. His most recent competition was at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), where he lost in the semifinals to Jannik Sinner and later retired from the third-place match against Taylor Fritz due to injury. Even in exhibition matches, the Serbian player has not been in his best physical condition.

This year, the Paris Masters will be held for the first time at La Defense Arena—the new venue for the tournament—but Nole will not be present to defend his title. His absence means he will miss the chance to claim an eighth title, which would have extended his unprecedented record in the tournament's history.

Nevertheless, Nole has already secured a spot at the ATP Finals for the 18th time in his career. If he decides to participate in Turin, it will mark his 17th appearance at the tournament featuring the year's top 8 players. The Serbian player mentioned in Riyadh that he "will try to prepare as best as possible for the two end-of-season events", but did not specify which tournaments those are.

According to various sources, Djokovic might be targeting the Athens Open, an ATP 250 event organized by his brother, Djordje Djokovic, in Greece—where he currently resides. If his fitness does not improve, the 38-year-old's 2025 season could end early, before he returns at the Australian Open—the first Grand Slam of 2026.

Related articles

Former world number one concerned about Djokovic's fitness Novak Djokovic aims to compete until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but whether his body can meet this ambition remains a big question. See more