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Is Novak Djokovic really slowing down, or is he just being smart about his schedule? That’s what everyone’s asking after his surprising semifinal loss to Valentin Vacherot in Shanghai. Fans were counting on a comeback at the Rolex Paris Masters, but Djokovic broke the news himself: “Dear Paris, unfortunately I’ll not compete at this year’s Rolex Paris Masters… Hope to see you next year. Merci,” he wrote in a heartfelt post. Now, the spotlight shifts to Turin for the ATP Finals and Djokovic’s participation. Recently, former American tennis pro John Isner shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s chances of appearing in Turin. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, he gave a rather somber prediction. “I don’t think so,” Isner said. “And I hope I’m wrong. I think everyone would love to see him in Turin. The fact that he’s already qualified, playing the schedule that he’s played this year, is just completely absurd. At 38 years old, it needs mentioning again. But I don’t think he’s playing. He didn’t play last year. Pulled out of Paris.” Isner went on to say he believes Novak Djokovic might be “gearing up for 2026” rather than pushing himself through the rest of this season. It’s a fair point; Djokovic didn’t play Paris last year either, and his careful scheduling suggests he’s prioritizing longevity over constant appearances. For example, this year Djokovic has only appeared at the 4 Grand Slams and a handful of ATP 1000 events combined with only a few 500- and 250-level events. To put it into context, Djokovic has only played 46 matches this year, a significant drop compared to tennis’ current top 3 of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Alexander Zverev. Alcaraz has played 74 times so far, Sinner 54 (after serving his 3-month doping ban), and Zverev has played 73 matches. Nonetheless, a non-appearance in Turin wouldn’t be unprecedented considering he pulled out of last year’s Finals as well. Along with Alcaraz, Sinner, and Zverev, he has already qualified, though he would lose out on a potential $5.1 million prize if he were to skip it. Next on Novak Djokovic’s calendar is the ATP 250 in Athens, one of the few tournaments he has officially committed to this season. Interestingly, the event recently relocated from Belgrade and is owned by his family. Plus, Djokovic now permanently resides in Greece, making his participation almost certain. Still, the big question isn’t if he’ll play, but how he’ll play. Concerns linger after he retired mid-match against Taylor Fritz at the King’s Slam earlier this month, sparking speculation about his fitness and overall recovery. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports However, recent news indicates that he is recovering and is in training. With the tennis community focusing on Athens, the fans are looking forward to knowing whether Novak Djokovic is recuperating or just preparing another typical comeback. The Serbian maestro is maybe even a little hungrier. But is he fit enough to perform in such a big event? Novak Djokovic’s brother shares an update amid retirement rumors Novak Djokovic may be missing the Paris Masters, but this is not the end of the way, at least not now. His brother, Djordje Djokovic, provided encouraging news for the coming weekend, which is when the Hellenic Championship in Athens is set to take place. “He withdrew from Paris, but he is working hard to recover. He has specific problems that worsened in Shanghai. He feels good now and is doing everything in his power to be in the best possible condition and play in Athens,” Djordje shared. “He has said how important it is for him to play in this competition, in front of the Greek fans. He is a mastermind when it comes to preparation and recovery, and that is why he is the best.” Novak Djokovic’s motivation remains rooted in longevity. Speaking at an event in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Six Kings Slam, he drew inspiration from athletes who’ve defied age barriers. “Longevity is one of my biggest motivations and I really want to see how far I can go. You see across all the global sports, you know, LeBron James is still going strong, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40. I want to keep going. I also want to live, I mean keep on playing professionally, to see the change that is coming for our sport and I’m super excited about it,” he said. Additionally, his response to the question of retirement was unwavering: “It’s not happening. I’m sorry to disappoint them.” Nevertheless, rumors of retirement are persistent. Rennae Stubbs, the former number one in doubles, recently hinted that Novak Djokovic might retire following the Australian Open, which is where his Grand Slam legacy started, next year. However, Djokovic appears to be as resolute as ever for the time being. The fire that made him one of the greatest tennis players isn’t going out anytime soon, regardless of whether he continues to play until 2026 or beyond.
