Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s Paris Masters, potentially ending his 2024 season.
The 37-year-old, who is the defending champion in Paris, has won a record 40 Masters titles in his career along with his 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic is still in contention to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin next month, but is currently sixth in the race for the eight-man field event with a number of players still able to overtake him.
“Unfortunately I won’t be playing the Paris Masters this year,” Djokovic posted on social media.
“I have a lot of great memories, winning seven titles and I hope to be back with you next year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me there.”
For the first time since 2017, Djokovic will end the season without a Grand Slam title after victories for Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the four majors.
However, Djokovic did win his first Olympic gold medal in Paris in August.
At the age of 37, though, Djokovic surely cannot have too much longer on the ATP Tour and Nadal thinks his former rival could soon have a breakdown.
‘I think it’s human that Novak, even if he’s still healthy, is of a certain age and it’s logical that the clock takes its toll on all of us,’ Nadal told Spanish outlet AS.
‘And that, once Federer has gone, once I’m gone, since we’ve been his two great rivals, at some point he also has a small mental breakdown and will find a reason to step aside.’
