Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s Qatar Open in Doha, citing “strong fatigue” following his demanding run at the Australian Open.
Tournament organisers confirmed the news on Wednesday, bringing an end to expectations that the 24-time Grand Slam champion would make his first appearance since finishing runner-up in Melbourne. Instead, the 38-year-old will prioritise recovery ahead of the upcoming North American hard-court swing.
Djokovic’s decision comes after an intense fortnight at the season’s opening major. The Serbian star produced one of the performances of the tournament in the semi-final, outlasting world No. 2 Jannik Sinner in a gruelling contest that stretched beyond four hours. It marked his 38th Grand Slam final- and his 11th at the Australian Open- further extending his remarkable longevity at the top of the sport.
In the final, however, Novak Djokovic fell in four sets to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, missing out on what would have been a record-extending 25th major title.
The ATP 500 event in Qatar would have marked his return to competitive action, but the veteran instead appears focused on peaking for the prestigious “Sunshine Double” – Indian Wells and Miami- in March.
Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells, although he has not lifted the trophy there since 2016. A deep run in California would provide another opportunity to reassert himself in a season already defined by a fierce rivalry at the top.
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Doha Field Headlined by Alcaraz and Sinner
With Djokovic absent, attention in Doha will turn squarely to Alcaraz and Sinner, who enter as the top two seeds. Both will be competing for the first time since the Australian Open and headline a strong field at the hard-court tournament.
Their continued emergence has defined the ATP Tour’s new era, and Doha could offer an early-season showdown between the two young stars if both advance deep into the draw.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will remain off court through February as he recovers from the physical toll of Melbourne. While fans in Qatar will miss the presence of the two-time champion (2016, 2017), his withdrawal underscores a clear priority: longevity over volume.
As the 2026 season gathers pace, Djokovic’s focus remains unchanged- arriving fresh and fully prepared for the sport’s biggest moments.
