Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the Adelaide International, which was set to be his only tournament in preparation for the Australian Open. The Serbian tennis star cited that he is “not quite physically ready” to compete, expressing disappointment at missing the chance to play in Adelaide, a city where he has fond memories of victory from two years ago.
In a heartfelt message to his fans on Instagram, the world number four expressed his eagerness to return to the Australian Open to pursue his 11th title and 25th Grand Slam while highlighting his focus on preparing for the tournament in Melbourne, scheduled to commence shortly. Djokovic’s last competitive outing was in early November, when he triumphed over Lorenzo Musetti in the Athens final, and he has adopted a selective approach regarding his tournament participation.
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, who is currently competing at the Brisbane International after a lengthy injury recovery, encouraged fans and players to appreciate Djokovic’s ongoing contributions to the sport. Kyrgios acknowledged the significance of Djokovic’s presence, especially as the tennis community has felt a void since legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal departed. He emphasized the importance of cherishing Djokovic’s legacy and expressed hope that the champion continues to compete for as long as possible.
Djokovic has previously indicated his intention to remain in the sport until at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he aims to defend the gold medal he won in Paris. However, with emerging talents like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz taking the spotlight, Djokovic has found himself in a more subdued role. Despite reaching the semifinals in all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, he hasn’t progressed beyond that stage since winning the US Open in 2023.
The announcement of his withdrawal from Adelaide came shortly after Djokovic revealed he would be parting ways with the Professional Tennis Players Association, a group he co-founded. He cited concerns over issues such as transparency and governance within the organization, and his personal image representation.
As Djokovic redirects his focus towards preparing for the Australian Open, fans remain hopeful for his return to peak form, eager to witness the continued pursuit of greatness by one of tennis’s all-time greats.