Djokovic’s withdrawal announcement raises concerns about his physical recovery status

Djokovic has consistently emphasized that Grand Slam events are his top priority. This 24-time Grand Slam winner and ten-time Australian Open champion dominates the Open Era records and is striving to claim another title to lead Margaret Court in total Grand Slam trophies. Nevertheless, his choice to forgo preparatory tournaments has sparked concern, with his recent comments confirming he will proceed directly to Melbourne.

Djokovic has officially pulled out of the Adelaide International. The Serbian star confirmed this decision on Monday and announced it via social media, marking an unexpected change to his early-season schedule.

When sharing the news on Instagram, Djokovic clearly explained the reason: “To all fans in Adelaide, I regret to inform you that I am currently not fully ready physically to compete in next week’s Adelaide International. This is very disappointing for me personally since I won the title there two years ago and have many fond memories.”

“I was really looking forward to returning because playing there felt like competing at home. Now, my focus will shift to preparing for the Australian Open, and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon to meet the Australian tennis fans.” Undoubtedly, his primary objective remains winning the season’s first Grand Slam title.

This withdrawal comes as a surprise. Just last month, the tournament organizers announced Djokovic would return to Adelaide. Even more concerning is that he has not played any official matches for nearly two months.

His last official match was on November 8, 2025, when he defeated Musetti in the final of the Greek Championships held in Athens. Afterward, citing a shoulder injury, he withdrew from the ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.

Later, during an interview at the Qatar Open, Djokovic discussed his recovery progress and showcased his latest use of the Regenesis recovery chamber, explaining why this technology is crucial for him and how it relates to his ongoing physical issues.

Despite nearly two months of rehabilitation, Djokovic will not compete in Adelaide, where he previously won the ATP250 event twice, in 2007 and 2023. Three years ago, he defeated Medvedev and Korda in the semifinals and final respectively to claim the trophy.

Instead, Djokovic will postpone the start of his 2026 season and head directly to Melbourne, skipping all warm-up events. The Adelaide International begins on January 12, with Paul as the top seed. Djokovic’s next planned tournament is the Australian Open, scheduled from January 18 to February 1.

Meanwhile, along with withdrawing from Adelaide, Djokovic recently announced another major decision—he is leaving the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he helped establish. This move has caused a significant stir in the tennis world. He confirmed he will fully exit the PTPA, which was co-founded five years ago.

Djokovic issued a statement on the X platform last Sunday night explaining his choice: “After careful consideration, I have decided to completely leave the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision stems from ongoing concerns about transparency, governance, and how my voice and image have been represented.”

This news surprised the entire tennis community. When Djokovic launched the PTPA during the 2020 US Open, his stance was very clear. He openly opposed the existing ATP leadership model and called for an independent players’ organization to gain greater influence and fairer revenue distribution.

Shortly afterward, he resigned from the ATP Player Council, believing that true change required “separation” rather than reform from within. His vision was to provide stronger representation for players at all levels, not just the top-ranked athletes.

However, over time, the PTPA’s role became increasingly confrontational. As conflicts with tennis governing bodies escalated, Djokovic gradually withdrew from frontline involvement. Those close to him are unhappy with the public attributing every dispute to him, as his original intention was to seek balance, not create division.

Now, Djokovic’s full attention is back on the Australian Open. He will appear in Melbourne without any warm-up tournaments, aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title. Melbourne has always been his strongest stage; the question remains whether he can once again transform familiarity into a historic moment.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)