Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Australian Open conditioning tournament in Adelaide on Monday, saying he was not ready to return to competition ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.
“Dear Adelaide fans, unfortunately I am not yet physically ready to compete at the Adelaide International next week,” Djokovic wrote on social media. “Personally, it’s very disappointing because I have great memories of winning the title there two years ago. I was really excited to be back because it really felt like I was playing at home.”
The 38-year-old Djokovic, who has won a record 24 majors in men’s singles, has not played a competitive match in nearly two months. He defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the Greek Championship final in Athens on November 8, but announced he would withdraw from the ATP Finals for the second year in a row, citing a shoulder injury.
“Right now I am focused on preparing for the Australian Open,” Djokovic wrote on Monday. “I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and meeting all the Australian tennis fans.”
Main draw matches at Melbourne Park begin on January 18th.
Djokovic has won the hard-court major tournament that kicks off the Grand Slam season a total of 10 times, including most recently in 2023.
He has lost in the semifinals in each of the past two years, and in 2025, he was forced to stop playing after the first set due to a torn hamstring muscle against Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic reached the semifinals of all four major tournaments last season.
He will start this season fourth in the standings behind Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Zverev.
The Adelaide withdrawal comes a day after Djokovic announced he was severing ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association. He co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association, which sued the sport’s governing body last year to win more money and influence for athletes.
