Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s Adelaide International, explaining that he is “not quite physically ready” as he continues his build-up to the Australian Open.

The 38-year-old had been due to use the tournament, which begins on January 12, as preparation for the season’s opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park, where he is aiming for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and an elusive 25th major crown.

“To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram.
“It’s personally very disappointing for me, as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago. I was really excited about returning, as it truly felt like playing at home.

“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 has not played a tour-level match since defeating Lorenzo Musetti in the final in Athens in early November. In recent months, the former world number one has found himself playing a more secondary role on the men’s tour, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz emerging as the dominant forces.

Although he reached the semi-finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, Djokovic was unable to progress further, with his most recent major triumph dating back to the US Open in 2023.

His withdrawal from Adelaide also comes just a day after he announced he was cutting ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, an organisation he co-founded. Djokovic cited concerns over “transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented” as reasons for his decision.

Despite the setback, Djokovic remains focused on fine-tuning his preparation ahead of the Australian Open, where he will once again look to add to his historic legacy.