Novak Djokovic’s 2026 Season Hits Early Bump With Adelaide Withdrawal

Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from what would have been his first event of the 2026 season, the Adelaide International, scheduled for next week, as he revealed in a statement on social media.

The 10-time Australian Open champion had been planning to get some much-needed match practice ahead of the first Major of the year, continuing a routine he has followed in recent seasons. However, Djokovic will now miss the event due to physical issues, as outlined in his statement.

Djokovic Withdraws From Adelaide International

Issued Statement

The full statement from Djokovic was:

“To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week. 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.”

The Adelaide tournament was meant to serve as Djokovic’s gradual return to competition following a longer-than-usual offseason, after the Serbian once again opted not to take part in the Nitto ATP Finals. Instead, Djokovic will now head straight into best-of-five-set competition at Melbourne Park, without any official warm-up matches.

An Eventful Offseason Off the Court

Despite the setback, Djokovic’s offseason has been anything but quiet.

In early December, he was spotted at a Formula 1 event, where he spoke about “Rebuilding the Machine” and emphasized his focus on reaching peak physical condition ahead of the new season. He was later seen working with a new addition to his team, Dr. Mark Kovacs, a performance and recovery specialist, signaling a renewed emphasis on longevity and physical preparation.

Adding further intrigue, Djokovic announced just yesterday that he is no longer part of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organization he originally co-founded. The decision reportedly came after differences in views regarding the group’s recent activities.

With plenty of drama unfolding off the court, tennis fans will now have to wait patiently for the return of the all-time leader in Grand Slam titles, as what could be the final chapter of a historic career prepares to unfold at the Australian Open.