Djokovic is taking another week off, but the other three will be competing this week—de Minaur in Serbia’s Belgrade Open, and Rublev and Ruud in the Moselle Open in Metz, France—all vying for vital points.
This week, it’s possible that all three might get enough points to surpass the great man and eliminate him from the race.
The more significant question, however, is whether the 37-year-old, who has been sharing photos of himself on social media of himself on vacation with his family in the Maldives and avoiding the Paris Masters, will even bother to aim for a record-extending eighth Finals title in Turin even if he qualifies.
Djokovic showed up to watch the preliminary round of the Belgrade Open on Sunday, suggesting that the beach vacation was at least ended.
After competing for Serbia in the Davis Cup in September, the 37-year-old stated, “Torino is not my goal at all, to be honest, I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings.” It is evident that he is much more interested in preparing for the Australian Open and potentially breaking the 25th grand slam record.
“In my opinion, I have finished competing in those tournaments for my career. I am unable to say at this time if I will participate in any further events this year or in the future.
For a player like de Minaur, who would be the first Australian to compete in the end-of-year tournament since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago, it may not mean much anymore, but it means a great deal.
In the midst of a demanding, injury-plagued year, the Belgrade Open will mark his 20th tournament of 2024 in an eleventh different naHe is aware that if Djokovic declared he was withdrawing from Turin, he, Ruud, and Rublev would all be assured of a spot in the Finals.tion. Although he is still not fully recovered from three straight tournaments, the top seed in the tournament most likely needs this week’s slog badly.
Instead, they simply need to fight one final battle, separated by 1500 kilometers.
Rublev and Ruud will be playing in Metz and are destined to clash in the final, while de Minaur will start the week with an uncomfortable match in Belgrade against either Serbian Laszlo Djere or seasoned Swiss ace Stan Wawrinka.