HERE WE Go:Novak Djokovic: Paris Masters tournament chief gives verdict on shock decision

Paris Masters tournament director Cedric Pioline believes that Novak Djokovic has decided to “manage his body” as he reacted to the Serb’s surprise withdrawal from the event.

No one has had more success at the indoor tournament in Bercy than Djokovic, who claimed a record-extending seventh title in 2023.

The Serbian beat Grigor Dimitrov to lift the title a year ago, having previously triumphed in 2009, 2013-15, 2019, and 2021.

However, the 37-year-old will not be back searching for an eighth crown in 2024, having withdrawn from the event – and seemingly ending his 2024 season.

Speaking to Eurosport, Pioline was not too disappointed in Djokovic’s withdrawal – and admitted that he understood the decision.

Pioline said: “He is the defending champion – but he is 37 years old if I am not mistaken.

“He has had a complicated year physically since he had a meniscus operation just before Wimbledon. He won the Olympic Games, it is his only title but that was the objective, so objective achieved.

“I think he has reached a stage in his career where he manages his schedule as his body asks him to manage it.”

Novak Djokovic New, Djokovic’s Olympic gold medal remains the only title he has won in 2024, having lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz and the Shanghai Masters final to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.

This season has proven a challenging one for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who failed to win a major for the first time in a calendar year since 2017.

Djokovic was beaten by Sinner in the last four of the Australian Open and then pulled out of the French Open midway through due to a meniscus tear.

He rebounded to play at Wimbledon though lost that final heavily to Alcaraz, and was then stunned in the third round of the US Open by Alexei Popyrin.

Last year, Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slam titles up for grabs and then did not play from the US Open until Paris, winning in the French capital before winning the ATP Finals title.

However, while he has not officially withdrawn, it does appear that he will also skip his year-end championships title defence in Turin.

Djokovic is currently sixth in the ATP Race and could well qualify for the event, though could also be leapfrogged across this week’s action and then action in Paris next week.

The Serbian beat Sinner to win his seventh ATP Finals title last season – also a tournament record.

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