Djokovic withdraws from Australian Open warm-up in Adelaide

Novak Djokovic Withdraws from Adelaide Warm-Up Ahead of Australian Open

World-class Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the upcoming Adelaide International, a key warm-up event ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, citing that he is “not quite physically ready” to compete. The decision was confirmed by Djokovic himself in a statement posted on his social media channels, where he expressed disappointment but emphasized his priority is preparing fully for the season’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne.

The Adelaide International — an ATP 250 event scheduled to run shortly before the Australian Open — was expected to serve as Djokovic’s first competitive tournament of the 2026 season. At 38, he remains one of the sport’s most accomplished players, with 24 Grand Slam singles titles and a record 10 Australian Open crowns to his name. He has won the Adelaide title twice, with his most recent victory there coming in 2023, making his absence at what is effectively a home event a significant talking point in the buildup to Melbourne.

In his announcement, Djokovic made clear that while he looks forward to returning to competition, he does not believe his body is ready for match play in Adelaide. “To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,” he wrote. “It’s personally very disappointing to me as I have such great memories of winning the title there… 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.”

Djokovic’s extended absence from the tour can be traced back to the end of the 2025 season. He last competed in November at the Hellenic Championship in Athens, where he won the tournament, but was forced to withdraw from the ATP Finals shortly thereafter due to a lingering shoulder injury. The ongoing management of his physical condition has seen him adopt a more selective schedule in recent seasons, prioritizing peak performance at Grand Slam events over playing a full ATP calendar.

This strategic approach has paid dividends in the past; Djokovic has often succeeded at major tournaments without a heavy lead-in schedule, occasionally skipping warm-up events entirely. However, some analysts and fans view the decision to miss Adelaide — especially given its proximity to the Australian Open — as a double-edged sword: it could help preserve his fitness, but it also means he enters Melbourne with no competitive matches under his belt so far in 2026.

Djokovic’s focus now shifts entirely to the Australian Open, which begins on January 18, 2026 at Melbourne Park. There, he will be aiming to lift what would be an unprecedented 11th title at the event and claim a record 25th major singles championship, surpassing the current all-time mark. While he remains ranked in the world’s top players, younger rivals such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev continue to push hard for Grand Slam victories, making the upcoming fortnight in Melbourne critical for Djokovic’s legacy.

In summary, Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Adelaide warm-up reflects his careful management of physical readiness and underscores his enduring commitment to Grand Slam success. Fans and commentators alike will now be watching closely to see how he performs when the spotlight turns to Melbourne later this month.