Former World No.1 and the world’s most successful player, Novak Djokovic, has decided to pull out of next week’s Adelaide International, which serves as a build-up event for the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic, who has captured 24 Grand Slam titles to date, stated that he is not physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International, leading to his withdrawal from the event.
Djokovic’s Statement
“To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,” Djokovic said in a statement issued via social media on Monday. “It’s personally very disappointing 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,” he added.
Djokovic mentioned that his focus is now on preparing for the Australian Open. The 38-year-old Serbian has won the Australian Open title 10 times, with victories in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
“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,” Djokovic stated.
Update on PTPA
Earlier in the day, Djokovic announced that he has “stepped away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association,” which he co-founded, citing concerns over “ongoing transparency and governance.” Djokovic and Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil established the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) as a not-for-profit entity to ensure that players have a unified, independent voice in shaping the future of professional tennis.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented,” Djokovic posted on X.
“I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice – but it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation,” the post continued.
“I will continue to focus on my tennis, my family, and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity. I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed,” he concluded.