Novak Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals after defeating Lorenzo Musetti, but not before setting a new record on hard courts.
Published November 9, 2025
Novak Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals for the second consecutive year on Saturday, moments after defeating Lorenzo Musetti to win the Greek championship in a nearly three-hour final.
Djokovic said a shoulder injury would keep him out of the season’s final match between the top eight men’s players, which begins on Sunday in Turin, Italy.
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“I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and doing my best,” Djokovic wrote on social media.
“However, I would like to share that after today’s final in Athens, I will unfortunately have to miss out due to an ongoing injury.”
The decision means Musetti will take his place despite the fact that the final qualifying spot was initially given to Felix Auger-Aliassime after losing to Djokovic.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion said he had been battling injuries throughout the tournament in Athens. Djokovic, a seven-time ATP Finals champion, also missed last year’s tournament due to injury.
“That’s why I decided not to make the call. To go to Turin sooner or not, because I wanted to see how the game would go and how I would react,” he told reporters.
“After yesterday’s (Friday) game, I was hoping that my symptoms wouldn’t get any worse. But today, even before the game, I wasn’t feeling well. I had to take all the strong medication to be able to play.
“When I was playing in the top eight in the world, I felt like I had no chance of making it through the Turin tournament at the level of tennis I needed.”
Djokovic overtakes Federer at key juncture
On Saturday, the Serbian won his 101st career title with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Musetti.
“It was an unbelievable battle,” Djokovic said after the match. “It was a physically demanding three-hour match…I am very proud that I was able to overcome this match.”
In the final set, Djokovic clinched the victory with a service winner after five breaks. Musetti has lost his last six tour-level finals.
Djokovic is one of only three male players to win a century of titles. Jimmy Connors tops the list with 109, although he still needs two to equal Roger Federer’s 103.
The 38-year-old’s victory over Musetti set a men’s record with his 72nd hard court title, one place ahead of Federer.
