"Not my goals" - Novak Djokovic drops ATP Finals from priority list, commits fully to playing 'Grand Slams' & representing Serbia
Novak Djokovic has made it clear that from now on he is going to prioritize only Grand Slams and representing his nation at international tournaments. The Serb made the admission during the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Djokovic fulfilled the last remaining goal of his illustrious career at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he won his maiden gold medal in men's singles. With that triumph, the 37-year-old completed a Career Golden Slam and became the only man to win all big titles (four Grand Slams + all Masters 1000s + Olympics gold) in tennis.
Djokovic is currently in Belgrade to compete in the Davis Cup Finals and began his campaign with a seamless 6-0, 6-1 win over Ioannis Xilas of Greece on Saturday, September 14.
After the match, the former World No. 1 gave insights on what's next in his career, declaring that he is not going to focus on his ranking, participation in smaller tournaments, and even qualification for the 2024 ATP Finals.
"I am not chasing a place on the ATP list, nor the Final Masters. Those are not my goals, honestly. As for me, I finished my career in other tournaments. I don't know if I will play them in the future or this year," Djokovic told the media.
Instead, his central priority now will only be Grand Slams and playing for his country at international competitions like the Davis Cup. The Serb added that he would take some time to recover physically and emotionally before deciding on his next tournament.
"My priorities are playing for the national team and grand slams, everything else is less important. Now I need a physical, mental, and emotional rest in order to decide what and how to proceed, how much and where," he added.
Novak Djokovic is currently outside of contention for ATP Finals 2024
Novak Djokovic will have to play a nearly full schedule for the rest of the 2024 ATP Tour to qualify for the ATP Finals. The Serb is currently placed ninth on the qualification list, one spot outside the eight automatic slots, and has yet to win a title this year.
He faced a semifinal exit at the Australian Open and suffered upset losses at the Indian Wells Masters and the Italian Open. To the surprise of many, Djokovic competed in the ATP 250 tournament in Geneva but lost in the semifinals. His French Open campaign ended in the quarterfinals, and he once again came up short at the Wimbledon Championships, finishing runners-up for a second year in a row.
The Serb did return to the winner's circle once again at the Olympics (an ITF tournament). However, this was followed by a third-round exit at the US Open. As a result, he has dropped to the World No. 4 spot on the ATP Ranking. His ranking will suffer an even steeper collapse if he does not defend his title at the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.