Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Adelaide International, much to the disappointment of local fans who hoped to see the Serb tune up for Melbourne.
The decision, announced on his social channels, comes as Djokovic shifts his preparation toward the Australian Open and deals with fitness, form and off-court fallout from a surprise split with the players’ association he helped start.
Djokovic Pulls Out Of Adelaide
To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,
Novak Djokovic
The message was plain and direct, and it explained the short-term plan: skip the Adelaide tune-up to prioritize the season’s first major. Djokovic framed the withdrawal as a tough call made to protect his Australian Open chances.
At 38 years old, Djokovic is managing a veteran body that has delivered extraordinary returns over many seasons, but which also needs careful handling around Grand Slam weeks.
He has not played a tour match since beating Lorenzo Musetti in the Athens final on November 8, and he withdrew from the ATP Finals late last year while treating a shoulder complaint that has lingered into this season.
Djokovic made it clear the Adelaide pullout comes with the Australian Open in his sights, with main-draw action at Melbourne Park due to begin on January 18, a date that shapes his entire early-season schedule.
On paper the target is familiar and brutally simple for Djokovic: add one more major to an already unmatched résumé and extend his dominance at his hardest-fought favorite tournament when he has historically played best.
The Serb is chasing a men’s-record-extending 25th grand slam singles title while holding a haul of 24 major singles crowns at present, and he has won the Australian Open a record 10 times, most recently in 2023.
Fitness, Form And The Road To Melbourne
Form is not the question so much as availability, and Djokovic has shown he can turn up big at majors even with limited lead-up matches. That said, he retired hurt against Alexander Zverev in last year’s Australian Open semifinals and will want to avoid a repeat.
Being seeded and match-sharp are different things, and Djokovic begins the year ranked No. 4 on tour. The risk calculus is obvious: play Adelaide and risk aggravating a problem, or rest and hope match pace can be found at Melbourne Park.
His competitive rhythm is still there in flashes; the Athens title was proof he can switch on, but the calendar bites and the margins at the Slams are unforgiving. Fans will hope the missing weeks translate into a stronger body come the second week in Melbourne.
PTPA Exit And Bigger Tour Questions
Off court, Djokovic also announced he would cut ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, citing concerns about transparency and governance and the way his voice and image were being used by the group he helped found.
The split comes amid continued legal wrangling between the PTPA and the bodies that run the sport, and losing a founder’s endorsement is a reputational blow that the fledgling organisation will have to weather even while pursuing its case.
For the tour, Djokovic stepping away from Adelaide removes a marquee draw from the event, but it sharpens the storyline at Melbourne Park: if Djokovic arrives healthy, the hunt for a record-breaking 25th major will dominate the fortnight.
There is also the human element. Djokovic wrote he was “personally very disappointing” not to play in Adelaide because of the memories and how much the tournament felt like home, which is as much a nod to the fans as it is to his own standards for competing.
Short-term disappointment in Adelaide might be balanced by long-term gain in Melbourne if his careful approach keeps him deep into the second week. The calendar is tight, but champions often have to be architects of their own schedules.
Expect headlines in the coming days about practice intensity and fitness updates, and a careful build into the Australian Open. For now Djokovic has picked preparation over immediate crowd-pleasing and set his sights on a familiar, very big prize.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
