Serbian tennis icon and former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is set to begin his build-up to a historic 25th Grand Slam title and a record 11th Australian Open title. The Serb has confirmed his participation in the Adelaide International, a key lead-up event ahead of the Australian Open, scheduled to take place from January 12 to 17 in the Australian city.
The 2025 season was a respectable one for the 38-year-old, even though Grand Slam success remained out of reach. Djokovic compiled a 39–11 win–loss record, captured his landmark 100th career tour title in Geneva, and ended the season by claiming his 101st trophy at the ATP 250 event in Athens.
Novak Djokovic Confirmed To Participate in the Adelaide International Ahead of the 2026 Australian Open
Djokovic’s other standout performances included semifinal runs at the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, as well as a runner-up finish in Miami.
It is worth noting that the Serb chose to skip several notable events in the 2025 season. Following the conclusion of his grass-court season, the 24-time Grand Slam champion chose to skip the entire North American hard-court swing. Djokovic cited multiple reasons for the decision, including a desire to spend more time with his family.
Despite qualifying comfortably, he also opted to forgo the ATP Finals in Turin last month, further fuelling questions about his schedule and priorities.
CANNOT keep calm but can you blame us?
Welcome back to Adelaide, @DjokerNole 😍 pic.twitter.com/z7tVYrroZa
— Adelaide International (@AdelaideTennis) December 16, 2025
Djokovic has been on a well-earned break since winning the title in Athens last month, with his return in Adelaide coming as welcome news for fans. The Serb has competed at the Adelaide International on two previous occasions, lifting the trophy in 2007 and again in 2023, in which he defeated former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals before going on to defeat Sebastian Korda in the final.
Djokovic is not the only high-profile name confirmed for the 2026 Adelaide International, with Jack Draper, João Fonseca, and Stefanos Tsitsipas also set to compete. The tournament will present a crucial opportunity for the Serb to fine-tune his game ahead of the season’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne.
A record 10 Australian Open titles underline why the event has long been his forte. Djokovic’s most recent Australian Open triumph came in 2023, when he overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final.
