Novak Djokovic’s journey to the ATP Finals in Turin has gained momentum after several of his competitors in the Race to Turin stumbled in crucial matches. Despite this opportunity, the seven-time ATP Finals champion has made it clear that he isn’t prioritizing qualification for the season-ending tournament, especially after a year characterized by a lighter tournament schedule.
This year, Djokovic has strategically chosen to focus on Grand Slam events and the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where he previously clinched the gold medal for Serbia, rather than regular tour competitions. Following his participation in the Davis Cup last month, he reiterated that the ATP Finals is not a significant goal for him at this point in his career. “Torino is not my goal at all, to be honest, I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings,” he stated. “As far as I am concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will play in other tournaments this year or in the future, I can’t say right now. My main priorities are playing for the national team and slams; everything else is less important.”
Although Djokovic may not be actively defending the ATP Finals title he secured by defeating Jannik Sinner last year, he finds himself in a favorable position to qualify once again. The top eight players of the calendar year earn a spot in the ATP Finals, and just weeks ago, Djokovic was sitting in tenth place. However, his impressive run to the finals of the Shanghai Masters, despite a loss to Sinner, has bolstered his chances significantly.
As of now, Djokovic has climbed to sixth in the ATP Race, but he remains uncertain about competing in additional events before the season wraps up, which opens the door for his challengers to close the gap. In a surprising twist, all three players behind him in the rankings—Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Alex de Minaur—suffered defeats this past Friday.
In the Nordic Open in Stockholm, Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka showcased his enduring talent by edging out Andrey Rublev with a score of 7-6(5), 7-6(5). “The key was to stay focused and positive with myself,” Wawrinka remarked. “Andrey is such an amazing player, but I was feeling good on the court, I was moving well. I could start to dictate a little bit, and with so much support from the crowd, it is easier to fight on the court.”
Meanwhile, in Stockholm, Tallon Griekspoor delivered a setback to Casper Ruud, defeating the Norwegian and further dimming his chances of securing an ATP Finals spot. Ruud is currently positioned seventh in the ATP Race, and his defeat means he won’t close the gap with Djokovic this week. The same can be said for De Minaur, who faced Frenchman Hugo Gaston in Antwerp. Gaston triumphed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, advancing to the semi-finals of the ATP 250 tournament.
Looking ahead, Rublev and Ruud will be back in action next week, vying for vital ranking points at the ATP 500 tournament in Basel, while De Minaur will compete in the ATP 500 in Vienna. However, the pathway to the ATP Finals seems to be opening up for Djokovic, who is yet to finalize his participation in the last ATP Masters event in Paris before the Finals next month.