Djokovic and the reasons for his renewed interest in the ATP Finals
The Serbian has skipped the ATP Finals for the last two years, but this 2026 he is determined to seek qualification. What caused this change in attitude? There are several reasons.
Novak Djokovic honors tennis simply by continuing to compete at 39 years old, demonstrating a strong determination to win matches. The goal of participating in the ATP Finals 2026 is fueling the Serbian in this final stretch of the year, aiming to break a new historical record.
A few days ago, Cedric Pioline, director of the ATP Masters 1000 Paris 2026, said that he did not understand Novak Djokovic's attitude regarding the ATP Finals, as he found it inconsistent to decline to compete in that tournament for the past two years while pushing himself this season in search of a ticket to Turin.
Perhaps the Frenchman, busy with his duties, has not realized that it is neither necessary nor possible to understand the greatest tennis player of all time, as reaching the success levels of the Serbian requires doing things outside of common logic.
CLUTCH 🥶 Djokovic saves three set points before sending the opener to a tiebreak! #RolexParisMasters https://t.co/zEfswFc3pU
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 3, 2026
This has been Djokovic's entire career; exploring limits when it seemed he had gone beyond the imaginable, feeding off challenges that would seem trivial to many, and ignoring skeptics and critics. Competing at 39 years old, with the physical suffering it entails and having already won everything there is to win, is only within reach of unique and genuine thinkers.
Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals in 2024 and 2025 and did not qualify in 2017
Trying to put ourselves in Novak's shoes, several aspects may have motivated this change in attitude from the Serbian regarding the Masters tournament. First, it is important to contextualize Djokovic's relationship with this event, which he has managed to conquer on 7 occasions, making him the player with the most titles.
The most astonishing thing is that from 2007 to 2025, there was only one season in which he did not manage to finish among the top 8 in the world and, consequently, obtain qualification for the ATP Finals. It was in that fateful 2017, when an injury to his right elbow forced him to end his season at Wimbledon.
His withdrawal from the ATP Finals in both 2024 and 2025 suggested that his priorities did not revolve around this tournament. He cited physical discomfort in both cases and the desire to manage efforts to arrive in peak form at the Australian Open the following year. So why does his mentality change this year?
The reasons why Djokovic wants to compete in the ATP Finals 2026
First of all, it should be noted that Novak Djokovic has played many fewer matches in 2026 than in previous years. He closed 2024 with 46 matches played, while in 2025 he finished with 50 matches. At this point in 2026, he has only played 29 matches, making him come in fresher and more ambitious.
There is also the fact that, as he himself points out, he is starting to find solutions to health issues that have affected his performance this year and wants to test himself. Additionally, the title in Beijing, defeating players like De Miñaur, Zverev, and Medvedev, has shown the Serbian that he is still capable of beating the best in the world and embraces the challenge of competing in the ATP Finals as a potential launching pad for competitive rhythm and confidence.
Beyond these intuitive reasons, there is the challenge of breaking another historical record. Yes, there is still something in which Djokovic does not hold the all-time record, and it would not be surprising if he perceived it and takes it as another incentive to secure his ticket to Turin: to be the tennis player with the most participations in the ATP Finals in history.
Currently, Roger Federer has competed in the Masters tournament the most times, with 17 appearances. Novak Djokovic has 16, which would be more if he had not withdrawn in the last two years. Equalling the Swiss this season and dreaming of surpassing him may sound trivial and absurd to all of us, but let us remember that Djokovic does not operate by our logic and that his successes can only be understood through an unusual competitive hunger.
The main goal of Novak Djokovic remains winning a Grand Slam, and to arrive with renewed energy and hopes for the Australian Open 2027, there would be nothing better than competing in the ATP Finals 2026 and measuring himself against the best. Will the Serbian achieve his great goal with a strong result in Paris?
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic y los motivos de su renovado interés por las ATP Finals