The 24-time Grand Slam champion was among four players vying for one of the last three spots at the season-ending event in Turin, set to begin on Sunday. However, he took to social media to confirm that he would not pursue a third consecutive Finals title.
“I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” Djokovic said.
“Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”
At 37 years old, the Serbian player is currently ranked fifth in the world and sits sixth in "The Race," the ATP's annual rankings that determine the eight participants for the Finals. Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Taylor Fritz had already secured their spots prior to Djokovic's announcement.
His withdrawal from the tournament automatically opens the final three positions for Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev. Ruud and Rublev are competing in Metz, France this week, while De Minaur is in action in Belgrade.
Djokovic's decision to withdraw was anticipated, as he had previously pulled out of the Paris Masters, effectively concluding a challenging season. He has not claimed any ATP titles in 2024, marking the first time since 2006 that he has ended a season without a title, and he has been overshadowed by younger talents like Sinner and Alcaraz.
Nonetheless, Djokovic did achieve a significant milestone by winning singles gold at the Paris Olympics, adding the final major accolade that was missing from his illustrious career achievements.