“Seven years has been a long time. At the same time, the fact that I waited seven years makes this victory even sweeter and even bigger,” Novak Djokovic reflected in 2022 after claiming a record-equaling sixth ATP Finals title by defeating third-seeded Casper Ruud. That triumph was more than just a win; it was a statement, a moment that etched Djokovic alongside Roger Federer with six ATP Finals crowns. Yet the story didn’t end there. Three years later, Djokovic is still poised to shatter yet another Federer record at the tournament, even as lingering doubts over his participation hang in the air, keeping fans on edge.

Four Grand Slam semifinals, a Miami final, a Shanghai semifinal, and a Geneva title have been enough for Novak Djokovic to clinch his qualification for the ATP Finals in Turin. With 4,580 points in the Race, the Serbian superstar has mathematically secured his spot at the season-ending event. 

Yet, as was the case last year, Djokovic is keeping fans on tenterhooks about his actual attendance, leaving the door open for speculation. If he does play, he would match Roger Federer’s record of 17 ATP Finals appearances.

Currently, Djokovic is only registered for the ATP 250 in Athens (November 2–8), a tournament organized by his family. If he decides to skip Turin, Félix Auger-Aliassime stands to benefit, currently positioned tenth in the Race while competing in Brussels this week. Cameron Norrie’s season may have ended, and Jack Draper, ninth in the Race, is also done, leaving the door slightly ajar for the Canadian.

Though questions about his participation echo last year, Djokovic likely has a plan in mind, eyeing the Australian Open as his ultimate early-season target. Even with his form remaining rock-solid, the Serb has struggled against a particular adversary, Jannik Sinner. The 2025 Netflix Six Kings Slam provided yet another reminder, as Djokovic fell to Sinner for the third time this season, the match ending in just 62 minutes with a brutal 6-4, 6-2 scoreline.

After the defeat, Djokovic didn’t sugarcoat his feelings. “I want someone to trade a younger body with me. Just for a year so I can try to win against these guys. Excuse my language, but it’s never nice when someone kicks your a– like this on the court,” he admitted candidly, showcasing both his frustration and his relentless competitive spirit.

But the fire isn’t out. “I still have the drive,” Djokovic emphasized. He acknowledged the challenge of facing younger stars, saying, “It’s becoming much more difficult for me to get a win against Jannik and Carlos. I’m gonna keep on challenging them until it happens.”

For those assuming he might throw in the towel, Djokovic was crystal clear: “It’s not happening, sorry.” Despite the grueling battles, his hunger for victory remains undiminished, and he continues to be the third favorite at most tournaments he enters.

Even as he grinds toward a potential 25th title, retirement is far from his thoughts. Every on-court rival can attest to his relentless pursuit, his fierce drive, and his unwillingness to bow out gracefully. Djokovic’s journey is far from over, and the question of Turin looms, not as a threat, but as yet another stage where history could be made.

At 38, Novak Djokovic is not slowing down anytime soon!

For two decades, Novak Djokovic’s resilience bordered on the superhuman. From 2003 to 2023, he seemed untouchable, rarely sidelined, rarely shaken. The only real fracture in that armor came in 2016, when an elbow injury forced surgery a year later. Djokovic himself called it the worst injury of his career. Yet since then, those cracks have begun to widen, subtle at first, then increasingly impossible to ignore.

At the 2024 French Open, a medial meniscus tear forced him to withdraw, followed just months later by a hamstring tear at the 2025 Australian Open. These were no ordinary setbacks, they were warnings, signals that even the most durable body can falter. By the time the tour reached Shanghai, Djokovic’s body protested under the suffocating 30°C heat of the Masters.

Despite the physical strain, one of his fiercest rivals, Taylor Fritz, offered a grounded perspective on Djokovic’s future. Having lost 11 times to the Serbian, Fritz spoke candidly to Tennis365, cutting through the speculation of retirement with sharp clarity.

“He hasn’t really shown too many signs of slowing down,” Fritz said when asked about Djokovic. “He obviously has had a great year, semis at every Grand Slam. It’s tough to even think about him retiring or being done soon when he is producing the level he is producing.”

With Djokovic’s ATP Finals spot now mathematically secured, the only lingering question is whether he will actually play. 

Yet the chatter of retirement feels premature, almost laughable, given the Serbian’s relentless work ethic and competitive fire.