BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Novak Djokovic won’t defend his ATP Finals title after ruling himself out on Tuesday due to an unspecified injury. Djokovic wrote in an Instagram story, “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week. Apologies to those who were planning to see me.”

The seven-time ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic will not compete in Turin next week, skipping the premium ATP event. Unlike the veteran, last year's finalist Jannik Sinner is eager to embrace battles against the world's best players,

Djokovic had qualified automatically for the ATP Finals but his withdrawal means Alex De Minaur and Andrey Rublev are confirmed for the eight-player tournament in Turin. They join Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are poised to add another entry into their rapidly developing rivalry when the ATP Finals open Sunday without any members of the Big Three for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic pulls out of the ATP Finals because of injury, a move which sets the eight-man field for the event.

With the Nitto ATP Finals just days away, there was still a question as to whether or not Novak Djokovic will be in Turin. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is not certain of his qualification for the last major event on the ATP calendar, but his chances are very high at this stage.

Citing an unspecified, "ongoing injury," Novak Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the season-ending ATP Finals on Tuesday.

World No. 5 Novak Djokovic announced that he will not plasy in the 2024 ATP Finals due to an "ongoing injury."

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Tour Finals with “ongoing injury,” bringing his 2024 season to a close. Djokovic confirmed his absence on Instagram Tuesday, writing that “It’s quite an honor to qualify for the Nitto ATP Tour Finals in Turin.