“Breaking: Djokovic loses it, referring to Adelaide International as a “third-rate event” and implying that there is a plot to ruin his season. asserts that his “injury” is a protest against…
Novak Djokovic won’t be competing in the Adelaide International this year…
The Serbian star had been expected to begin his 2026 campaign at the Adelaide International, but has now withdrawn from the event.
Instead, Djokovic will return to tennis at the Australian Open, an event he has won 10 times previously.
Who will win the 2026 Australian Open?
boss_chaseNovak Djokovic
joere63Carlos..
pardonmadzokere91I will go for Alcaraz is very consistent player and his kind of play reminds me of Roger Federer.When Federer retired from the game l loved Alcaraz so much and he will be one of the greatest
Breaking the news on his Instagram story, Djokovic shared a fitness update with his 16 million followers.
Novak Djokovic says he is ‘not quite physically ready’ to return
“To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,” said Djokovic.
“It’s personally very disappointing to me as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago.
“I was really excited about returning, as it truly felt like playing at home.
“My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open, and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia.”
Who is the most influential tennis player ever?
camerondesc1Hard to say anyone but Federer really. He might not be the greatest of all time, but in terms of bringing fans into the sport, he is number one.
matthew.johnsHas to be Billie Jean King for me
liam.mcmillenOut of the big three, I think you see more players trying to emulate Djokovic’s style than the other two
Djokovic’s withdrawal has opened up the Adelaide International draw, promoting Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to the number-one seed.
Top seeds at the 2026 Adelaide International
- 1. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
- 2. Jiri Lehecka
- 3. Tommy Paul
- 4. Francisco Cerundolo
- 5. Tallon Griekspoor
- 6. Arthur Rinderknech
- 7. Joao Fonseca
For Djokovic, his focus now turns to the Australian Open, an event he knows better than anyone else.
Does Novak Djokovic have a chance at the Australian Open?
Djokovic has played well at all four Grand Slam tournaments, but his record in Melbourne stands out.
The Serb won his first title in 2008, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final, and has since added another nine trophies to his collection.
Few players are more comfortable than Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena, a stadium he ruled for the best part of 20 years.
However, times are changing, and Djokovic failed to reach the final on his last two visits to Melbourne.
- 2024 Australian Open – Novak Djokovic lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
- 2025 Australian Open – Novak Djokovic lost in SF to Alexander Zverev
At 38, Djokovic is still one of the best players in the world, but has slipped down the world rankings, and currently sits fourth.
Official ATP Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 12,050 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 11,500 |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 5,105 |
| 4 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 4,780 |
| 5 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 4,190 |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 4,080 |
| 7 | Lorenzo Musetti | Italy | 3,990 |
| 8 | Ben Shelton | USA | 3,960 |
| 9 | Taylor Fritz | USA | 3,840 |
| 10 | Jack Draper | Great Britain | 2,990 |
The three men ranked above him, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz, are all likely to be in contention to win the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in 2026.
Djokovic lost to all three players in Grand Slam semifinals last year, as the trio prevented the Serb from reaching his 38th major final.
- 2025 Australian Open – Novak Djokovic lost in SF to Alexander Zverev
- 2025 French Open – Novak Djokovic lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
- 2025 Wimbledon – Novak Djokovic lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
- 2025 US Open – Novak Djokovic lost in SF to Carlos Alcaraz
His defeats to Sinner and Alcaraz were worryingly one-sided, as the Serb’s age began to show.
Djokovic did, however, look dangerous at the Australian Open in 2025, beating Alcaraz en route to the semifinals.
Unfortunately for Djokovic, an injury he picked up during his win over Alcaraz proved to be his downfall, as he was forced to retire just one set into his semifinal match.
Knowing that he plays his best tennis on Rod Laver Arena, and with what happened 12 months ago in the back of his mind, it’s not hard to understand why Djokovic is erring on the side of caution.
Fans of the 38-year-old will just hope that he can rest and recover in time to make his 21st Australian Open appearance.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 18.
Djokovic has just 13 days to get himself fit!