Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has chosen not to defend his title at the Paris Masters 1,000, a decision motivated by the need to rest at the end of the season. This determination puts his position among the top eight in the world at risk, a condition essential for participating in the Turin Masters. Djokovic is currently in sixth place in the "Race" with 3,910 points, and his score will not change until the end, potentially allowing three other players to surpass him and lose his spot in the Italian competition.
Norway's Casper Ruud and Russia's Andrey Rublev are among the tennis players who could move ahead of Djokovic in the rankings, along with Australia's Alex de Minaur, America's Tommy Paul, and Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov. If his absence from the Masters is confirmed, it would be the first time since 2017 that the Serbian misses this tournament, which he has won seven times, including the last two editions.
At 37 years old, Djokovic has had a less remarkable season than in previous years, achieving only the Olympic gold medal as his major victory. Despite being the tennis player with the most Grand Slam and Masters 1,000 titles in history, Djokovic has expressed his preference to reduce his participation in tournaments and focus on Grand Slam events. This approach is also related to his goal of winning gold at the Paris Games, a feat he accomplished this year after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Djokovic's season was marked by an injury suffered at Roland Garros, which led him to undergo surgery for the first time in many years. The overload of matches has also been a determining factor in his performance, as he played several consecutive matches. Despite not participating in the Paris Masters, Djokovic is focusing on taking care of his physical condition and enhancing his future performances on the professional circuit.
