Can Novak Djokovic still qualify for ATP Finals after Paris Masters withdrawal?
Novak Djokovic has indicated his wish to prioritize Major tournaments on tour. He is the defending champion at the Paris Masters this year but has decided to withdraw from the event, which begins next week.
Djokovic recently reached the finals of the Shanghai Masters, where he defeated the likes of Jakub Mensik and Taylor Fritz. However, he was unable to overcome Jannik Sinner in the final, losing in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-3.
Djokovic's only title this year was a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. He has a 37-46 win-loss record, including a runner-up finish at Wimbledon, a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, and a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open before withdrawing due to a knee injury.
Even though this season has not been exceptional, Djokovic finds himself among the top eight players set to qualify for the ATP Finals. Currently ranked sixth in the Race to Turin, just behind Taylor Fritz, his withdrawal from the Paris Masters, a 1,000-point event, adds an extra layer of uncertainty to his qualification hopes.
Djokovic's qualification for the ATP Finals is looking increasingly uncertain. He currently sits in sixth place in the Race to Turin with 3910 points, a 600-point deficit to the qualification mark. His nearest competitor, Casper Ruud, is just 55 points behind.
Alex De Minaur's recent semifinal run in the Vienna Open has significantly improved his chances. With a deficit of less than 160 points, a deep run in Paris could secure his spot in Turin. Andrey Rublev, who reached the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors, is 90 points behind Djokovic and could also pose a threat.
While Djokovic remains ahead of Ruud, De Minaur, and Rublev, the tight point margin and strong performances from his rivals make his qualification uncertain.
For Djokovic to qualify for the ATP Finals, De Minaur, Rublev and Ruud need to have a disappointing run in the Paris Masters. If these three players manage to reach the quarterfinals in Bercy, it would leave the Serb in ninth place, outside the qualification bubble. However, if any player is eliminated in the first two rounds the Djokovic will be in line to compete in the ATP Finals.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev have already qualified for the year-end championships. Amercian No. 1 Taylor Fritz also has a commanding lead over his near rivals and is expected to secure his place in Turin. With the Paris Masters set to begin next week, the top players on tour will hope to bring their A-game to the fore and make a final push towards the ATP Finals. As the competition heats up, World No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov and World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas also have an outside chance, but the duo will need to win the Paris Masters to qualify this year.
It's worth noting that Djokovic could compete in the Serbia Open in Belgrade next month. If he's within 200 points of qualifying for the Turin Finals, winning the event could secure his spot. The Serbia Open starts November 3, but the immediate focus is on the Paris Masters, which begins Monday.
Novak Djokovic is a seven-time champion in the Paris Masters
Former World No. 1 Novak Djokvoic is one of the most successful players in the history of the Paris Masters.
The Serb has reached the finals in Bercy nine times in his career and managed to lift the trophy on seven occasions. He captured his first title in 2009 and added more to his cabinet in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
The 37-year-old defeated Grigor Dimitrov to win the Paris Masters last year but came up shy against Holger Rune in 2022. The Dane stunned him in a three-set bout in the finals, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
With Djokovic missing the event this year, there will be a new champion at the Paris Masters. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will be the top two seeds, followed by Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.