Novak Djokovic may not have played this week, but he has still suffered a huge setback.
After all, the 39-year-old has made it clear that he has very real aspirations of competing in the ATP Finals this year.
Having qualified in 2024 and 2025, on both occasions he opted to skip the event, likely as he sought out more rest ahead of the new seasons.
However, as his Grand Slam dream becomes more and more unlikely, it’s clear that his priorities have changed.
Novak Djokovic has now adopted a new focus on this year’s ATP Finals, but his chances of qualification seem slim after this past week.
Novak Djokovic suffers blow in ATP Finals qualification
The Serbian superstar was already not in the strongest of positions even before this week of action, where ATP events have been ongoing in Lyon and Almaty.
However, seeing his rivals succeed will have done his chances of qualification no favours, with Daniil Medvedev having just won the Almaty Open title.
How would you feel if Novak Djokovic got a wildcard to the ATP Finals?
Is there any changes you’d make to the current qualification system?
Meanwhile, a semi-final run for Flavio Cobolli has further solidified his place within the top nine, while Taylor Fritz has gained crucial ground with his performances of late too.
Although he lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the final, he has still put himself right on the heels of Djokovic in the live race.
What does the current live Race to the ATP Finals now look like?
Djokovic will know exactly what he needs to qualify for the ATP Finals, and will have two final opportunities to do so.
His first will come in Basel, where he is returning for the first time in 15 years.
Then, he will compete in the Paris Masters, where he remains the most successful player in the tournament’s history, even if he is not the same player he once was.
Medvedev has added 240 points to his tally and is now all but qualified with 3660.
He overtook Cobolli, who is right behind him on 3640.
Arthur Fils, who also reached the semi-finals in Brussels, feels a fair distance away from Djokovic on 3425, with Frances Tiafoe trailing him on 3380.
| Live Rank | Player | Current points | Maximum points |
| 5 | Daniil Medvedev | 3660 | 4110 |
| 6 | Flavio Cobolli | 3640 | 4130 |
| 7 | Arthur Fils | 3425 | 3925 |
| 8 | Frances Tiafoe | 3380 | 3830 |
| 9 | Rafael Jódar | 3159 | 3634 |
| 10 | Alex de Minaur | 2880 | 3330 |
| 11 | Novak Djoković | 2840 | 3340 |
| 12 | Taylor Fritz | 2695 | 3185 |
That leaves just Rafael Jodar in the final coveted ninth qualification spot, and his 3159 points put him 319 points ahead of Djokovic on 2840.
That means it will be a straight shoot-out between the 24-time Grand Slam champion and the in-form Spaniard, who is coming off the back of reaching his first-ever Masters 1000 final in Shanghai.
Medvedev recently said whether the ATP Finals should award wildcards because of Djokovic’s current position. Given his current position, qualification does seem really unlikely.
