Cedric Pioline, the tournament director for the Paris Masters, has shared his thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s unexpected withdrawal from this year’s event, suggesting that the Serbian star is taking steps to “manage his body.” Djokovic, who holds the record for the most titles at the indoor tournament in Bercy, had recently captured his seventh title there in 2023, defeating Grigor Dimitrov.
Despite his impressive track record, the 37-year-old will not be returning to pursue an eighth crown in 2024, marking what seems to be the conclusion of his season. In an interview with Eurosport, Pioline expressed understanding rather than disappointment regarding Djokovic’s decision. “He is the defending champion—but he is 37 years old, if I’m not mistaken,” he remarked.
Pioline noted the physical challenges Djokovic has faced this year, particularly following a meniscus operation just before Wimbledon. “He won the Olympic Games, which was his main goal for the season, so that objective has been achieved,” he explained. He added, “I think he has reached a stage in his career where he manages his schedule according to what his body needs.”
This season has proven to be a tough one for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. With only the Olympic gold medal to his name in 2024, Djokovic has faced setbacks, including a loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final and a defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final earlier this month. Notably, this marks the first calendar year since 2017 in which he has not secured a major title.
Djokovic’s year began with a semi-final loss to Sinner at the Australian Open, followed by a mid-tournament withdrawal from the French Open due to his meniscus tear. While he did manage to compete at Wimbledon, he suffered a significant defeat in the final against Alcaraz, and then experienced a surprising third-round exit at the US Open at the hands of Alexei Popyrin.
In contrast to last year, where Djokovic clinched three of the four Grand Slam titles and continued his success by winning the Paris Masters and ATP Finals, his current trajectory raises questions about his year-end plans. Although he has yet to officially withdraw, indications suggest he may skip his title defense at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Currently sitting sixth in the ATP Race, Djokovic still has a chance to qualify for the year-end championships. However, with the upcoming matches in Paris, he could easily be surpassed by other competitors. Last season, he notched his seventh ATP Finals title, setting a record for the tournament. As the tennis world watches, it remains to be seen how Djokovic will navigate the rest of his career.