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What Novak Djokovic said the umpire shouldn’t have done after Serena Williams

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Novak Djokovic Serena Williams

What Novak Djokovic said the umpire shouldn’t have done after Serena Williams controversy at the US Open in 2018

Novak Djokovic gave his say after Serena Williams was involved in controversy at the 2018 US Open.

Both Djokovic and Williams reached their respective singles finals at the US Open that year, but they had very different outcomes.

Williams was beaten by Naomi Osaka in her final, which was marred with controversy after she was given a game penalty for branding chair umpire Carlos Ramos ‘a thief’.

Novak Djokovic Serena Williams

 

READ: Serena Williams once admitted the biggest disappointment of her entire tennis

After Djokovic beat Juan Martin del Potro to win the US Open men’s singles title, he was asked for his verdict on the situation.

How Novak Djokovic reacted to the Serena Williams controversy at the 2018 US Open

Williams initially received a warning for coaching, before being docked a point after smashing her racket.

This led to Williams branding Ramos ‘a thief’, to which she was docked a game, before Osaka would beat her to claim her first Grand Slam title.

Williams received a lot of criticism for her behaviour in this final, but Djokovic was not willing to continue the backlash and instead claimed that chair umpire Ramos should not have pushed her so far.

“Look, I love Serena, first of all. I really felt for her yesterday,” Djokovic said in his press conference after winning the US Open in 2018. “Tough thing for a chair umpire to deal with, as well. We have to empathize with him. Everyone was in a very awkward situation yesterday. A lot of emotions. Serena was crying. Naomi was crying. It was really, really tough.

“But I have my personal opinion that maybe the chair umpire should not have pushed Serena to the limit, especially in a Grand Slam final. Just maybe changed — not maybe, but he did change the course of the match. Was, in my opinion, maybe unnecessary. We all go through our emotions, especially when you’re fighting for a Grand Slam trophy.

“But I don’t think it’s time and place really to get into other subjects. I don’t see things as Mr. [Steve] Simon (WTA Chairman at the time) does. I really don’t. I think men and women are, you know, treated in this way or the other way depending on the situation. It’s hard to generalize things, really. I don’t see it’s necessary really to debate that.

“I just feel like, as Serena said yesterday in the closing ceremonies, Osaka deserves to have her moment. As for Serena, she knows I love her. She really inspires everyone. To see her still being so dedicated and so committed to this sport, it’s inspiring really to me and to many tennis players, both men and women, around the world.”

What Serena Williams said when Novak Djokovic was disqualified at the US Open

Just two years later, Djokovic was involved in a controversy of his own at the US Open after being disqualified from his fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta.

This came after Djokovic inadvertently hit the line judge with the ball in her neck area, which was perhaps the biggest talking point of the 2020 tournament.

The roles were reversed on this occasion, and Williams was asked what she thought about Djokovic’s disqualification.

However, Williams was not willing to give her opinion on the situation and gave a short response to the question.

“I’m not going to touch that,” Williams said in her post-match press conference. “I’m going to leave that to you guys. I’m just not touching it.”

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WATCH: Novak Djokovic moves closer to Roger Federer’s milestone

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Novak Djokovic reached his first ATP semi-final in February 2006 in Zagreb, falling to Ivan Ljubicic in three tight sets.

Novak Djokovic opens up about how Roger Federer 'helped me a lot'

Nearly two decades later, the 38-year-old is still capable of reaching the latter stages on the highest level.

Novak defeated two rivals at this week’s ATP 250 event in Athens, having advanced to his eighth ATP semi-final of the season. Thus, the legend now stands on 199 ATP semi-finals, moving one away from another incredible milestone.

Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer are the only players with 200 ATP semi-finals in the Open era, with Djokovic looking good to join them at the end of 2025 or the beginning of the new season.

JUST IN: WHY Serena Williams goes overboard with cosmetic procedures revealing

Federer stands on 211, and the Serb will have a chance to pass him if he remains this consistency in 2026 and 2027. Novak has stopped the clock this season after reaching six notable semi-finals.

The Belgrade native made an incredible run at Majors, reaching all four semi-finals and writing history books. Alongside, he also competed in the last four at the Miami Masters and in Shanghai.

Djokovic suffered a couple of early losses, and without them, he could have already been on 200. However, the milestone will come sooner rather than later. Novak skipped the Paris Masters and prepared for the ATP 250 event in Athens.

The veteran defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-6, 6-1 in the first round, besting the Chilean for the first time in a career after two losses on clay. Djokovic prevailed in the opener after over an hour and secured a double break in the second set to advance.

Novak chased his 199th ATP semi-final against Nuno Borges and delivered a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 victory. As in the first match, the Serb had to dig deep in the opening set. He played a flawless tie break to gain the advantage.

Novak secured a single break in the second set and served well to book a place in the last four, remaining on the course toward his 101st ATP title.

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Coco Gauff hopes to pull off a Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka with latest move

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Coco Gauff Novak Djokovic Aryna Sabalenka

Coco Gauff is hoping to pull off a Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka as the American reveals she thought about those two stars when agreeing to give a shot to changing her serve. 

For more than two years, Gauff faced calls to bring in a biomechanics coach and make certain tweaks to her technique and service motion. And after mightily struggling with her serve for three months following her French Open victory, the world No. 3 parted ways with coach Matt Daly and hired biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan.

Two months since adding MacMillan to her team, Gauff’s serve is already looking better. However, it is still far from perfect since she is basically learning on the go since the 2025 season is still ongoing.

US Open 2024 Day 3 predictions: Top five matches on August 28 featuring Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff & more

READ: As Coco Gauff Proves Serena Williams’ Former Coach

Before he became a part of Gauff’s team, MacMillan introduced himself to the tennis world big time in 2022 when he famously fixed Aryna Sabalenka’s major serving issues. The Belarusian has since won four Grand Slams and reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Gauff: Djokovic, Sabalenka had similar issues… I’ve drawn on those experiences

“I was looking at Novak and he’s someone who didn’t have as great of a serve in the beginning of his career, obviously different issue than me, but he just wasn’t serving as strong. And he made that change and has gone on to obviously be Novak Djokovic. And even at that time, he was still like a successful player. So yeah, I’ve drawn on those experiences. And obviously Aryna and Venus and those who’ve done those changes,” the 21-year-old told The National.

Gauff also highlighted that she is aware that her serve can’t be magically fixed overnight. However, the two-time Grand Slam champion believes in the process and looks at the bigger picture.

Meanwhile, Gauff got a bit of rest last week after winning Wuhan. Now, the American is preparing for the WTA Finals, where she will try to make it back-to-back wins at the season-ending tournament.

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Have we just witnessed the end of Novak Djokovic? Crushing realit

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Novak Djokovic

We would not have predicted it would be world No 204 Valentin Vacherot who would give Novak Djokovic the reality check he was waiting for as he ponders the end of his tennis story.

Vacherot incredible win against Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters continued a truly remarkable week for the Monégasque player, as he is set to climb around 150 places in the ATP Rankings and secure more prize money this week than he had managed in his entire career up to this point.

The Vacherot story in Shanghai is one of the most remarkable of the 2025 season, as he has come through qualifying to reach the final of the ATP 1000 event in a week that will change the course of his career.

Novak Djokovic exhales

JUST IN: Serena Williams makes deeply honest confession about her early-career insecurities

Yet for Djokovic, this chastening defeat confirmed what has been evident for some time.

The heart and mind of this great champion are still willing to compete at the top, but his body is no longer allowing him to get through a tournament, with his 6-3, 6-4 defeat against Vacherot the latest nail in his ambitions.

With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner out of Shanghai with injury issues, this felt like the week when Djokovic would win what may be a final ATP 1000 event of his remarkable career.

Yet the depleted and broken version of Djokovic who was unable to stay with a player ranked outside the top 200 in the world, should give him the reality check that he needed when he ponders what comes next.

Djokovic said after his US Open defeat against Alcaraz that he may no longer have the physical capacity to compete over five sets against young players who are at a different end of their careers.

The 38-year-old also suggested the best-of-three-set format may be his best hope of adding a few more trophy wins to his record, but even the shorter format appears to be beyond him now.

He was struggling from the off against Vacherot and while the underdog did well to hold his nerve and secure the biggest win of his career, the Djokovic he beat was a shadow of the legend who has dominated the sport for the last two decades.

Djokovic showed fight against Vacherot, but the tank was empty long before his serve was broken for a final time in the second set.

The Serbian will now head to Saudi Arabia to play in the Six Kings Slam, where he will collect $1.5m even if he needs to limp through a match in the exhibition event.

Then it will be decision time for Djokovic.

He will have a few weeks to ponder whether he will put in the preparation time required to play at the Australian Open in January.

The 25th Grand Slam title he is chasing is a dream that now looks set to be beyond him because if his failing body won’t allow him to compete over an extended ATP 1000 event played over three sets, the notion that he could get through seven rounds played over five sets to win seems impossible.

The game is up for Novak Djokovic, so don’t be surprised if a retirement announcement arrives before the end of the year.

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How Novak Djokovic passes Roger Federer, makes history at 38

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Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic continues to redefine longevity in tennis. The 38-year-old passed his first test at the Shanghai Masters after ousting Marin Cilic 7-6, 6-4 in the oldest match in history at this level!

It was Novak’s first Masters 1000 win since turning 38, becoming the eighth-oldest player to celebrate a win at the premium ATP level of competition. More importantly, Djokovic passed Roger Federer, who delivered his last Masters 1000 victory at 38 years and two months.

At 38 years and four months, Novak now trails only a select group of outstanding veterans. If he maintains this pace and extends his career, he should challenge Ivo Karlovic and Jimmy Connors at the top.

READ: Which of Novak Djokovic & Serena Williams’ Grand Slam records is

Alongside them, Stan Wawrinka, Feliciano Lopez, Tommy Haas, Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils remain in front of the 24-time Major winner. Novak remains competitive at Masters 1000 events two decades after debuting at them.

He lost the Miami final in March in two tie breaks, and Shanghai stands as another chance to seek a deep run against the world’s best players. The latest milestone adds another chapter to a career that has stretched across two decades of hard work and dedication.

Eighteen years after lifting his first Masters 1000 trophies, Djokovic proudly stands in the top-5 and chases notable trophies against much younger and fresher opponents.

While struggling against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at Majors, the Serb believes he can still beat them in the less demanding best-of-three format. He is projected to face Sinner in the semi-final in Shanghai, and he would love to embrace another duel against the four-time Major winner.

While he transitions into the later stages of his career, Djokovic remains competitive on the sport’s biggest stages, mixing endurance and professionalism that few have ever matched.

Novak is facing Yannick Hanfmann in the third round in Shanghai, hoping for another strong performance in his first Masters 1000 event after turning 38.

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Which of Novak Djokovic & Serena Williams’ Grand Slam records is

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Novak Djokovic Serena Williams

Which of Novak Djokovic & Serena Williams’ Grand Slam records is more likely to be broken?

Hall of Fame tennis coach Rick Macci has revealed which of Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams’ Open Era Grand Slam records he thinks is more likely to be broken.

Macci coached Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick — all of whom went on to become world No 1. The seven-time USPTA national coach of the year also trained future major champions Mary Pierce, Anastasia Myskina and Sofia Kenin.

Pictured: Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Rick Macci

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The American began coaching Serena Williams in 1991, when she was 10 years old, and worked with the future legend until 1995.

Williams, who turned pro in 1995, won 23 major singles crowns — the most of any woman since the Open Era started in 1968 — before calling time on her remarkable career in 2022.

The American icon secured seven titles at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, six US Open titles and three French Open titles.

Margaret Court is the only woman in tennis history to win more Grand Slam singles titles than Williams, having won 13 of her 24 majors before the Open Era.

On the men’s side, Djokovic holds the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, with his most recent major triumph having come at the 2023 US Open.

The legendary Serb has won 10 Australian Opens, seven Wimbledon titles, four US Opens and three French Opens during a staggering 22-year pro career to date.

In an exclusive interview, Tennis365 asked Macci if he thinks Djokovic or Williams’ Grand Slam tallies will ever be surpassed.

“Listen, yeah I can see on the men’s side that being broken,” Macci declared.

“And I’m not saying it’s Carlos [Alcaraz] or [Jannik] Sinner, but they’re both off to amazing starts. And what I love is they love the game, they love the competition and they’re just so complete.

“So I can see them [getting to] double digits [Grand Slams], and from there, who knows how your body’s going to hold up as you get older.

“The women’s side is gonna be a little trickier because Serena played for a long time, just like Margaret Court, but that’s gonna be a little trickier.

“But then again, if you get someone, who’s a cut above, who checks every box, you could have someone come in there and dominate because the women’s game is very fluid and it’s wide open.”

Alcaraz, who is just 22, won his sixth Grand Slam title at the US Open last month. Sinner, 24, has secured four majors, with his most recent coming at Wimbledon in July.

Venus Williams remains the active WTA player with the most major singles titles, having won seven. Iga Swiatek, who is 24, won her sixth and most recent Slam at Wimbledon this year.

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Inside Novak Djokovic’s relationship with wife Jelena who ‘runs with the wolf’

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Novak Djokovic Jelena Djokovic

Tennis icon Novak Djokovic’s devoted wife Jelena has remained his unwavering supporter since their teenage romance blossomed during their school years.

The mother of his children has weathered the unique challenges that come with being wed to one of the sport’s greatest champions, consistently backing him through his record-breaking pursuits, including his current campaign at the U.S. Open.

The Serbian superstar secured his spot in the tournament’s third round and is set to clash with Cameron Norrie on Friday at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic holds a commanding 6-0 head-to-head advantage over the 35 year old British player, having already bested him twice this season during the Round of 16 at Roland Garros and the semifinals at Geneva.

Novak Djokovic Jelena Djokovic

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With his latest victory, Djokovic shattered Roger Federer’s record (74) for most third-round appearances at Grand Slam events. Never one to miss celebrating her husband’s milestones, Jelena took to social media to share this historic moment with tennis fans worldwide.

Jelena’s initial social media post featured TennisTV’s data visualization highlighting how her husband had surpassed both Federer and Rafael Nadal in Grand Slam tournament appearances. She accompanied the image with an oversized gray heart emblazoned with “Proud of You” in her Instagram stories.

Her second post highlighted another remarkable statistic from her husband’s illustrious career: his perfect record of never falling before the third round at the US Open. Across 19 US Open campaigns, Djokovic has claimed the championship trophy four times (2011, 2015, 2018, 2023).

Jelena has been a pillar of support for her husband, notably when she wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “I run with my wolf” during Djokovic’s highly publicized COVID-19 vaccine controversy and at the 2021 US Open.

The cryptic “wolf” reference initially left social media users scratching their heads until Djokovic clarified its meaning at Wimbledon that same year.

Djokovic fondly recalled his childhood encounters with wolves in the forests near his home, saying: “I’ve seen some wolves when I was a kid roaming the forests of the mountain where I grew up.”

He admitted that these encounters were frightening but also deepened his connection with wolves. “That encounter left me frightened [but] even more connected with wolves. There is a connection, I personally feel it.”

He affectionately referred to himself as Jelena’s wolf, hinting at the trials they’ve faced together. “She runs with the wolf,” Djokovic acknowledged, adding that “it can be very stressful to run with the wolf.

“I know that she doesn’t enjoy it at all times. It’s kind of living on the edge with the wolf.”

Despite the challenges, Djokovic expressed gratitude for his wife’s unwavering support, declaring, “I love her; she’s my great support.”

In an interview with Vesti Online, Jelena opened up about the downsides of being married to one of tennis’s legends. “We look at public figures and think that kind of publicity is okay,” she said.

“But as time goes on, you lack anonymity, you lack the privacy to be able to do whatever you like at any time, in any situation. I always try to resist all these expectations to be myself and for Novak to be himself.”

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Why Novak Djokovic was pinned against a locker by American

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Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic was pinned against a locker by American rival after beating ‘the pants off’ him at US Open

Novak Djokovic has been involved in some brilliant US Open battles over the years, but only one has spilled over into the locker room.

Djokovic withdrew from both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open but will return to the court in pursuit of his 25th Grand Slam.

READ: Serena Williams Shows Off Her Hourglass Silhouette in Slinky

The Serbian will find himself up against it in New York due to the form of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Yet ironically, that is a position Djokovic found himself in a different sense in mere months after winning his first-ever Slam.

The former world number one faced Andy Roddick, who won the US Open in 2003, in the quarter-finals of the 2008 tournament.

Things between the two were already tense in the build-up, with fans eagerly anticipating fireworks once they stepped onto the court.

Roddick accused Djokovic of faking an injury and joked his opponent might have ‘a back and a hip (injury)? And a cramp, bird flu or SARS?’

Djokovic won 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) against the home favourite and called out the American in his post-match interview, which drew boos from the crowd.

“I am really happy playing against Roddick on his court and in his city in his favourite tournament, so to win against him is a huge effort,” Djokovic said.

“That’s not nice, anyhow, to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I am faking it.

“I have nothing against anybody. Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries in the last match, so obviously I don’t, right? Like it or not, it’s like that.

“They (the crowd) are already against me because they think I am faking everything, so sorry.”

Roddick later revealed the situation escalated behind the scenes, and he ended up pinning Djokovic up against a locker.

However, the 42-year-old admitted the size of his rival’s trainer meant he soon backed off.

“I got in an in-the-locker-room, after-a-match confrontation with this tennis player one time,” Roddick told Fox Sports Live in 2013.

“I won’t say his name, I’ll just say it rhymes with ‘Schmovak Schmokovic’… and we got into IT at the US Open one time.

“I was kind of talking trash, and he came out and beat the pants off of me as he would.

“But (he) then kind of chirped afterward, and he came straight in, I went right up to him and had him up against the locker.

“But then I realised his trainer was about a little bit bigger than Donovan (McNabb, a former NFL quarterback, who appeared on the Fox show with Roddick) here, and I kind of checked myself.

“My trainer is about 5-foot-8, 130 (pounds), and can dodge raindrops. I kind of backed off real quick.

“I was about to get railroaded from the side.”

Djokovic went on to lose in the last-four to eventual winner Roger Federer, who beat Andy Murray in the final.

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Novak Djokovic’s wife makes marriage confession after

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Novak Djokovic Jelena Djokovic

THROWBACK: Novak Djokovic’s wife makes marriage confession after John McEnroe TV accusation

Novak Djokovic has already sealed legendary status in the world of tennis, having become the most successful tennis player in the history of the men’s game

The Serb has amassed 24 Grand Slam titles during his glittering career; a tally that surpasses Rafael Nadal (22) and Roger Federer.

He was also the first man to hold all four major titles at once, but there is clearly room for more.

Oko jedne stvari se Novak i Jelena Đoković uopšte ne slažu: Ni u njihovom domu nije sve idealno - Ona.rs

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The 38-year-old is bidding to win his eighth Wimbledon title, which would see him equal Federer as the most successful men’s player at the Championships.

Such an incredible career has unsurprisingly been a huge boost to his bank balance, while it’s also come with plenty of off-court rumours.

Novak Djokovic net worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Djokovic crossed the $150m (£110m) mark for prize money after his win at Wimbledon in 2021. In June 2023, victory at the French Open pushed his career on-court earnings past $170m (£125m).

Despite falling short in the Wimbledon final last year, his total on-court prize money had still grown to top $184m (£125m).

He is now expected to become the first ever player to surpass $200m (£147m) in career prize money by the end of the year – a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

But while his numerous tournament victories have done wonders for earning power, Djokovic’s overall net worth is much higher, with estimates placing his worth at around ($240m) £176.5m.

Indeed, a string of high-profile sponsorship deals have done wonders for helping to top up his already healthy income.

He was initially snapped up as a partner by Adidas, before being dropped by the company in 2009 in favour of Andy Murray.

Three years later, he signed a five-year deal with Uniqlo reportedly worth €8m a year. In that time, he arguably became the global face of tennis, and his success on the court brought more commercial success, amid deals with brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Seiko, and Head.

In 2017, he moved from Uniqlo to Lacoste, a partnership that still going strong, with Djokovic serving as the brand’s global ambassador and figure head for its athletic apparel division.

Between June 2017 and June 2018, he earned $24m (£17.6m) from salary and endorsements. That income jumped to $50m (£36m) between 2018 and 2019, followed by $45m (£33m) the following year.

Novak Djokovic’s wife opens up on marriage after McEnroe comments

Djokovic shares his substantial personal wealth with high school sweetheart Jelena.

After getting together in 2005, the pair tied the knot nine years later at the Aman Sveti Stefan Resort, a luxury hotel resort in Montenegro.

Jelena, 38, is a prominent businesswoman in her own right, and is the global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband.

She has previously often been seen courtside cheering her husband on at major tournaments.

However, her absence at Wimbledon in 2019, when she missed her husband’s games, sparked rumours about the state of their marriage.

Despite looking to clarify the matter, explaining it was down to Tara being too young to attend, speculation remained rife.

BBC pundit John McEnroe even started a rumour, suggesting a dip in the Serbian star’s form was due to “off-court issues with the family”.

McEnroe added: “The person that comes to mind immediately with Novak is not a tennis player, it’s actually a golfer: Tiger Woods. Woods had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails.

“He’s never been even close to being the same player. So we’re starting to say: ‘Wait a minute, is this possible with him, Djokovic?'”

Djokovic hit back, saying: “He’s very well known for his kind of bold comments and not really caring too much about being politically correct but saying whatever is on his mind.

“He has his right to say the things he wants to say. I don’t necessarily need to agree with that. But it’s his right.”

Jelena has candidly spoken about the media scrutiny that come with being married to a high-profile athlete, confessing to Vesti-Online: “When you are young, the spotlight and attention certainly feel comfortable. At first, the experience does not alarm you because it can bring you some difficulties. We look at public figures and think that kind of publicity is OK.

“But as time goes on, you lack anonymity, you lack the privacy to be able to do whatever you like at any time, in any situation. I try to resist all these expectations to always be myself and for Novak to be able to be himself. That is probably why I am being criticised by the public ‘why didn’t I wear makeup’ or ‘why wasn’t I always wearing heels’.”

In a 2020 interview on In Depth with Graham Besinger, Jelena added she had been “judged” for not fitting into the stereotype of an athlete’s wife.

“I think this is going to be brave to say to millions of people watching,” she said. “But I was trying to compete with him because I felt like, ‘I’m also deserving and I’m not getting enough credit for what I’m doing because I’m doing it more in the backstage’. My ego was there battling also, an internal battle because I always felt like I can express so much more but I have to do it quietly.”

“Basically, as a woman, you are not allowed to speak up a lot, you are not allowed to show up a lot,” she expanded. “There is this stereotype about who is the wife of an athlete, how she should look like, how she should behave, and I don’t fit very well into that stereotype. I am glad I don’t because I don’t need to. But it was hard because I was judged because of it.”

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Novak Djokovic future remains unclear after Serb’s family

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Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic future remains unclear after Serb’s family move countries

Novak Djokovic’s future remains up in the air after his recent semi-final defeat in Flushing Meadows. Aged 38, Djokovic reached the semis of all four Majors this year, but couldn’t make it any further. He lost to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets and then waved goodbye to the US Open crowd, making a heart with his hands.

Now, his schedule for the rest of the 2025 season is unclear. Djokovic recently moved from his home of Belgrade, Serbia, to Athens, Greece, with his family, and he seems keen to stay put before getting back on the tennis tour.

The world No. 4 is on the entry list for the upcoming Masters 1000 in Shanghai, which kicks off at the beginning of October. Djokovic finished runner-up in Shanghai last year, losing to Jannik Sinner, and he’s a four-time former champion at the tournament.

READ: How Novak Djokovic could qualify for the ATP Finals even without playing anymore

However, there has been strong speculation that he will skip the Shanghai Masters after the tournament shared a promotional graphic to social media featuring dozens of players, with Djokovic noticeably absent.

While his name remains on the entry list for now, fans believe the 38-year-old will likely withdraw from the event closer to the time.

After bowing out of the US Open, Djokovic himself made it clear that he didn’t know what he’d be doing with his schedule for the rest of the year. He only has one tournament on his list – the ATP 250 in Athens.

Asked when and where he was planning to play between now and the 2026 Australian Open, he replied: “That’s far. Australia is far. At least at this stage of my career, I mean, I’m not thinking that far, to be honest. I don’t know.

“I’m planning to play Athens tournament, that’s for sure, but other than that, it’s really still a question mark where I’m going to go and what I’m going to do.”

Djokovic and his family recently moved to Athens, and he was even spotted watching Greece’s Davis Cup tie against Brazil with his son, Stefan, over the weekend.

The world No. 4 doesn’t usually play ATP 250 events – the lowest tournament tier on the ATP circuit – but his brother is in charge of the Belgrade Open, which this year is relocating to Athens, so he has committed to playing.

Over the last few years, Djokovic has repeatedly expressed that Grand Slam tournaments and opportunities to represent his country remain his priority, instead of chasing other ATP titles, including Masters 1000s.

He could still play the Paris Masters, which takes place the week before the Athens event, and he looks primed to qualify for the ATP Finals, which is played the week after the ATP 250 in Greece.

But Djokovic ended his season early last year, after his run to the Shanghai Masters final, and skipped both tournaments, even though he was the defending champion. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if he misses the Paris Masters or the season-ending championships in Turin again.

Before withdrawing from those competitions in 2024, he said: “I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings. As far as I’m concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will play others this year or in the future, I can’t say right now.

“My main priorities are playing for the national team and Slams. Everything else is less important. I said a million times how much it means to play for the national team.”

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