In a significant blow to the Adelaide International tournament, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from next week's event. The world number four stated he is not yet physically prepared to compete, choosing instead to focus his efforts on a historic bid for an 11th Australian Open title in Melbourne.
A Personal Disappointment for the Serbian Legend
Djokovic broke the news directly to his fans via an Instagram post. 'To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I'm not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,' the 38-year-old wrote. He expressed deep personal regret over the decision, citing fond memories of his title win at the event two years ago. 'It's personally very disappointing to me,' he said, 'as I have such great memories of winning the title there. I was really excited about returning as it truly felt like playing at home.'
His attention has now shifted entirely to preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year. 'My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon,' Djokovic added. The main draw at Melbourne Park is scheduled to begin on January 18.
Chasing History Down Under
This withdrawal marks another step in Djokovic's meticulous planning for his assault on the record books. He is aiming for a men's-record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. His form in Melbourne has been dominant, though not without recent setbacks.
The Serbian has not played an official tour match since early November, when he defeated Lorenzo Musetti to claim the ATP title in Athens. He last triumphed at the Australian Open in 2023, but his campaigns in 2024 and 2025 ended in the semi-finals. His 2025 run concluded with a retirement due to injury against Germany's Alexander Zverev.
Withdrawal Follows Major Association Split
The announcement from Adelaide comes just a day after Djokovic revealed another major career decision. He has severed ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organisation he co-founded in 2019 with now-retired Canadian player Vasek Pospisil.
Djokovic attributed his departure to 'ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented'. This move is considered a devastating blow to the fledgling association, which remains locked in a legal struggle with the sport's traditional governing bodies. Losing its founding figurehead at such a critical juncture is a setback from which the PTPA may struggle to recover.
For Australian tennis fans, the immediate consequence is clear: they will have to wait until Melbourne to see the legendary Serb back in action, as he fine-tunes his quest for an unprecedented 11th crown at Rod Laver Arena.
