Ivan Ljubicic, former coach of Roger Federer, has expressed doubts about Novak Djokovic’s participation in the ATP Finals following Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Paris Masters. Ljubicic acknowledged that Djokovic’s performance at the Shanghai Masters demonstrated his ability to compete at a high level when motivated.
Djokovic has consistently emphasized that his primary focus is on Grand Slams and events representing Serbia, such as the Olympics and Davis Cup. This season, he has participated in only nine tournaments, including the four Grand Slams and four Masters 1000 events.
His recent withdrawal from the Paris Masters—where he has won seven titles—adds to his absences from other significant tournaments, including Miami, Madrid, Montreal, and Cincinnati. In a message on Instagram, Djokovic expressed regret over missing the Paris event, reflecting on his past successes and hoping to return next year.
Currently, Djokovic ranks sixth in the ATP standings with 3,910 points, but his qualification for the ATP Finals remains uncertain, especially since competitors like Alex De Minaur, Grigor Dimitrov, and Tommy Paul could surpass him in points.
Ljubicic shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s current mindset, noting that the retirements of significant rivals like Federer and Nadal might impact his motivation. He stated, “I don’t know, and I believe he doesn’t know either at the moment.” Ljubicic believes Djokovic is more focused on competing in tournaments rather than chasing rankings, suggesting that he may not feel physically or mentally prepared to participate in the ATP Finals, even if he qualifies.
Djokovic himself has downplayed the importance of the Finals, stating, “Turin is not my goal at all… I am not chasing the ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings.”