Djokovic dumps ATP Finals as Serb shuts down season

Novak Djokovic on Tuesday called a halt to his worst season in recent memory with the veteran Serb cited an injury as he pulled out before the weekend start of the ATP Finals in Turin.

The 37-year-old has gone all season without a Tour title but did fulfill a career dream by winning the Paris Olympic gold medal.

The last time the 22-time Grand Slam champion failed to win a title at a major was 2017.

Djokovic last competed in the Shanghai Masters final in October, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.

The fifth-ranked Serb, seven times a year-end champion, is back from a holiday after skipping last week’s Paris Masters, which he won a year ago.”I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” he posted on Instagram.

“Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

As a result of his withdrawal, the eight-man Finals field has been completed, with Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev finalising the last three places when group play begins on Sunday in the Pala Alpitour.

The trio will join a field comprising Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz.