Belgrade
Novak Djokovic has decided not to enter the Paris Masters because he has no points to win at the Nov. 2-8 event as he bids to retain the world number one spot come end of season, the 33-year-old Serb said.
“I won’t play in Paris as I can’t add to my points tally but I will go to Vienna and London,” Djokovic told Wednesday’s edition of Belgade daily Sportski Zurnal.
“I can win up to 500 points in Vienna as I didn’t play there last year and there are also a lot of points available in London.”
Djokovic clinched a record 36th ATP Masters crown when he won the Italian Open title in Rome last month, surpassing Rafael Nadal who confirmed he would enter the Paris Masters after winning his 13th French Open title on Oct. 11.
Nadal, who equalled Roger Federer’s record haul of 20 Grand Slam titles when he blew Djokovic away in the French Open final, has not entered the Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 tournament in Vienna but is expected to take part in the ATP Finals in London, Nov. 15-22.
Djokovic, who won the Paris Masters last year, will not lose any points over skipping the event because the ATP Tour’s revised ranking system due to the COVID-19 pandemic allows players to retain points from last year.—AFP
