Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Adelaide International just a week before it starts, meaning his 2026 season will begin later than planned.
The last time we saw Djokovic on court, he was actually celebrating. He beat Lorenzo Musetti at the 2025 Athens Open to win the title.
That victory had an unexpected side effect – it knocked Musetti out of ATP Finals qualification.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
But then Djokovic did something pretty surprising. He withdrew from the ATP Finals himself, which handed the Italian player that spot after all. The Serbian said he wanted to test his game in Athens, but he just didn’t feel competitive enough for the season-ending tournament.
Going into 2026, nothing really suggested Djokovic would have health issues carrying over from last year.
He’d planned to kick off his season at Adelaide, which runs January 12-17. That’s actually a bit unusual for him – the tournament happens just one week before the Australian Open starts.
Now it’s clear he’s heading straight to Melbourne instead. He’ll be among the top four seeds when the Australian Open gets underway.
The timing of his withdrawal is what’s got people talking. Announcing it just seven days before the tournament suggests this might be more than a minor issue.
"To all my fans in Adelaide. Unfortunately, I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week. It’s personally very disappointing to me as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago."
"I was really excited about returning, as it truly felt like playing at home. My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open, and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia."
Novak Djokovic will have to fight not only his opponents in 2026
This 2026 season could be really tough for Djokovic. Former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov recently said it’s basically impossible for the Serbian to win another Grand Slam at this stage.
The numbers tell the story pretty clearly.
Djokovic is 38 now and will turn 39 during the season. There’s literally no one older than him ranked in the ATP Tour’s top 50. That shows just how rare it is for someone to compete at this level at 38.
Having to withdraw from his very first tournament of the year? That’s not exactly the start he was hoping for.
It suggests Djokovic might be fighting his own body as much as his opponents in the months ahead.
Still, he’ll be one of the favorites when the Australian Open rolls around. He’s won that tournament 10 times – more than anyone else in history.
Now he’s chasing his 11th Melbourne trophy.
