Novak Djokovic just threw a wrench into everyone’s ATP Finals plans. The tennis legend says he hasn’t actually decided whether he’ll play in next week’s tournament, despite what officials have been telling the media.
The confusion started after Djokovic beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6, 6-1 at his own Athens Open tournament. It was his first win against the Chilean in three tries, and a pretty solid way to kick off his week.
But here’s where things get interesting.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
The ATP Finals start this Sunday. Everyone thought Djokovic’s participation was a done deal when Angelo Binaghi, the Italian Tennis Federation chief, told reporters that the 24-time Grand Slam champion would definitely be playing in Turin.
Turns out, that wasn’t exactly true.
When reporters asked Djokovic about Binaghi’s comments, the 38-year-old set the record straight pretty quickly.
"I don’t know where he (Binaghi) got that information from. Definitely not from me or my team. I will decide at the end of this tournament."
Ouch. That’s got to be embarrassing for Binaghi.
You’ve got to wonder if this was just an honest mistake or something more calculated. Sports officials have been known to make these kinds of premature announcements to drum up attention and ticket sales.
What This Means for the Final Spot
If Djokovic decides to skip the tournament he’s won seven times, it would completely change the math for the last qualifying spot.
Right now, Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime are battling it out for that final position. But Auger-Aliassime just withdrew from this week’s tournament in Metz, which basically hands Musetti a golden opportunity.
All the Italian needs to do is win the Athens Open and he’s in.
No pressure or anything.
Setting Up a Dramatic Showdown
Djokovic’s path to the Athens final looks pretty manageable. He’ll face Nuno Borges in the quarterfinals next, and while the Portuguese player is solid, it’s hard to bet against the former world No. 1.
But here’s where it gets really interesting. Musetti could end up facing Djokovic in the final, needing to beat him to secure his ATP Finals spot.
Talk about earning it the hard way.
First, though, Musetti has to get past Stan Wawrinka in the round of 16. The 40-year-old Swiss just pulled off an incredible comeback against Botic van de Zandschulp, winning 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.
At his age, that kind of fighting spirit is pretty amazing to watch.
But Wawrinka will probably need to play even better against Musetti if he wants to keep going. The Italian is hungry for his first title since 2022 – that’s over three years ago now.
Musetti’s last final appearance was brutal. He lost in Chengdu back in September after holding match points, and the cameras caught him crying afterward. You could see how much it meant to him.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Korda has already booked his quarterfinal spot and is looking to end what’s been a really tough season on a high note. Injuries and form issues have made 2024 a year he’d probably rather forget.
The Athens Open has an extra layer of significance for Djokovic beyond just tennis results. He and his family actually own the tournament, which moved from Belgrade to Athens this year after some reported tensions with the Serbian government.
So whether or not he decides to play the ATP Finals, at least he’s guaranteed to finish the year at his own event.
The tennis world will be watching closely to see what Djokovic decides after Athens wraps up.
