Novak Djokovic rarely leaves the court in the middle of a match, but that is what he did in Riyadh on the 18th of October. The 24-time Grand Slam legend battled through a grueling first set of 76 minutes of rallies, grit, and grimacing before losing it 7-6(4) in the Six Kings Slam third-place matchup against Taylor Fritz. Then, unexpectedly, Djokovic walked to the net, shook Fritz’s hand, and retired from the match.

The signs preceding this were all there. In Shanghai, he had been struggling with illness and persistent hip, back, and leg pain before losing to Valentin Vacherot. At that time, when he was asked about his health, he responded, “No. Next question, please.” But fans didn’t take that too seriously, as they knew they might soon see him in the Paris Masters on 27th October… although many of them later began speculating that with the way things have been going with his health, he might sit this one out. Seems like they were right.

The dream of his Paris appearance ended when insider @Olly_Tennis_ confirmed on X, “Novak Djokovic will not play the Paris Masters this year.”

Later, Novak Djokovic also confirmed the news himself on X, writing, “Dear Paris, unfortunately I’ll not compete at this year’s @RolexPMasters. I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title 7 times. Hope to see you next year. Merci.” Frustrating, yes, but hardly a surprise. Because he’d recently hinted he might scale back to protect his body.

Djokovic did not specify the exact reason for his withdrawal, but reports suggested he was still managing the leg issue that forced him to retire against Fritz in Riyadh. The 38-year-old appeared to struggle with his left leg throughout that first set, and considering his physical state, skipping Paris was perhaps a precaution.

The decision also came after he visibly battled fatigue and injury through Shanghai, where he lost to qualifier Valentin Vacherot in the semi-finals. It was another sign that the wear and tear is catching up with him, even as he remains one of the top competitors on tour.

So what’s next?

For now, it’s Athens. “After Shanghai, the only tournament I know I’m going to play is the one in Athens, and then let’s see if I play Turin or not,” he said. The inaugural ATP 250 in Athens starts on November 2. It’s also a meaningful event for Djokovic, as the tournament has been relocated from Belgrade and is partly linked to his family’s tennis academy— making it one he’s unlikely to skip unless his physical issues worsen.

At 38, with a 35-11 record this year and one title from Geneva, Djokovic holds the ATP World No. 5 spot but sits third in the Race to Turin standings. He has already qualified for the ATP Finals for a record-equalling 18th time, which will take place in Turin from November 9. His immediate goal seems to be preserving enough fitness to end his season on that stage.

Should he compete in the season-ending hard-court tournament, he’d be the underdog against young guns Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Both Alcaraz and Sinner will headline the Paris Masters draw in Djokovic’s absence, marking a generational shift as the next wave takes center stage. And as for the Paris Masters? It almost feels cursed for Novak Djokovic, given his history of withdrawals there.

Novak Djokovic’s battle with age and injuries

Remember back in 2024 when Novak Djokovic shocked the tennis world by sitting out the Paris Masters? He took to Instagram to say, “Unfortunately I won’t be playing @rolexparismasters this year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me play there. Wishing all the players, sponsors, organisers and fans a great tournament.” For a player who’s lifted the Paris trophy seven times and made 17 appearances, including a victory at 36 years and five months, that absence left a big hole in the tournament’s story. But at that time, he did not disclose any details regarding his withdrawal.

However, Paris Masters tournament director Cedric Pioline suggested that Djokovic’s decision could be related to managing his workload, considering his age and the physical demands of the tour. “But he is 37 years old if I am not mistaken. He has had a complicated year physically since he had a meniscus operation just before Wimbledon. He won the Olympic Games, it is his only title but that was the objective, so objective achieved. I think he has reached a stage in his career where he manages his schedule as his body asks him to manage it.” He wasn’t wrong.

Just before Wimbledon, Djokovic underwent that meniscus surgery, and it likely influenced his 2024 calendar. Fast forward to this season, and the mystery continues. He skipped Paris again without a full explanation, even though his health has been a visible story all year. Back in March 2025, Djokovic had to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a hamstring injury, and openly admitted it was tough for him to keep up with the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in 5-set matches. But ever since, the toll of age and travel has shown up in legs, back, hip… You name it.

As Novak himself admitted, “It’s just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.” Even the man who’s outlasted everyone knows time doesn’t quit, it just waits for you to miss the shot.