The Adelaide International tournament started on January 12, which was Djokovic's championship two years ago. Initially, it was expected that the 38-year-old player would use this tournament to warm up before entering the Australian Open, where he aims for his 11th championship at Melbourne Park, and also conquer his 25th Grand Slam title in his career.
In an announcement sent to fans, Djokovic admitted that the decision to withdraw was not easy. He expressed regret for not being able to return to Adelaide - a place that brings many beautiful memories and the feeling of competition like at home. However, Djokovic emphasized that the priority at this time is to ensure the best physical condition for the Australian Open, a tournament taking place from January 18 to February 1 in Melbourne.
As of now, Djokovic has not played any ATP Tour matches since his victory over Lorenzo Musetti in the final of a tournament in Athens in early November last year. In the context of increasing age, the player who once held the world No. 1 position is forced to adjust his schedule to limit the risk of injury.
In the 2025 season, Djokovic reached the semi-finals of all 4 Grand Slam tournaments but stopped before the final. His most recent Grand Slam title is still the US Open 2023. Meanwhile, world men's tennis is witnessing the strong rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, two young players gradually taking the lead in major tournaments.
Notably, the decision to withdraw from Adelaide International was made just days after Djokovic announced the termination of his role at the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) - an organization he is one of the founders of. Djokovic said the departure stemmed from differences related to management and the way his personal image is used.
Not competing in any official tournament before the Australian Open caused Djokovic to enter the Grand Slam at the beginning of the year without a warm-up match. However, not only the Serbian player, 2 big opponents Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz also did not register to participate in ATP tournaments before the Australian Open 2026.
