Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will play the Athens tournament in November and intends to continue with a full Grand Slam season in 2026, while reducing his participation in smaller warm-up events. The 38-year-old Serbian, who remains the last active member of the celebrated “Big Four,” is still pursuing the elusive 25th Grand Slam title, a record that would surpass Margaret Court’s tally and stand as the highest in the Open Era.
His 2025 campaign has not gone as planned, with a retirement against Alexander Zverev in Australia followed by straight-set losses to Jannik Sinner at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. A semi-final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open has further underlined the physical challenge Djokovic now faces in best-of-five contests.
Djokovic Confirms Athens but Skips Davis Cup and Laver Cup
Djokovic has ruled out playing the Davis Cup this month and confirmed he will not feature in the Laver Cup in San Francisco. Instead, he has set his sights on the ATP 250 event in Athens, which begins on November 2. This tournament replaces the Belgrade event and will be played on indoor hard courts.
“I’m planning to play the Athens tournament. That’s for sure. But other than that, it’s really still a question mark,” Djokovic said after his US Open exit. His statement suggests that the Paris Masters, starting October 27, remains in consideration, while the ATP Finals in Turin on November 9 are also firmly on his radar. Djokovic currently sits third in the Race to Turin standings, putting him in a strong position to qualify.
Focus Shifts to Masters Events and Grand Slams
The Serbian has been clear about adjusting his priorities. “The Grand Slam season… not to say that I will skip Grand Slams. I still want to play a full Grand Slam season next year. But I do fancy my chances a bit more in the best-of-three, one-week tournaments or the Masters tournaments, where you have almost two weeks with quite a few days between matches. That could serve me better in the match-ups against them,” Djokovic explained.
Beyond his Grand Slam ambitions, Djokovic could also turn his attention to breaking Jimmy Connors’ record of 109 career titles. With 100 titles already secured, he is also eyeing Roger Federer’s mark of 103, which looks achievable in the near future.
Whatever path he chooses, Djokovic must continue to navigate the growing dominance of generational rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, whose physicality and consistency are now setting the standard in men’s tennis.
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