Tennis fans can officially gear up for another Novak Djokovic appearance at the ATP Finals in Turin, according to a fresh claim from the president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, Angelo Binaghi.
How Does Novak Djokovic’s Return Impact the ATP Race for Turin?
Speaking on Emilio Mancuso’s radio show La Politica nel Pallone, Binaghi stated, “We have confirmation that Djokovic will play in Turin.” While Djokovic’s camp has yet to issue a formal statement, this revelation could significantly shake up the ATP Race standings, especially for Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who is fighting tooth and nail for the final qualifying spot.
The ATP Finals, which bring together the world’s top eight singles and doubles players, have long been the crown jewel of the men’s season. With seven players already locked in, only one place remains unclaimed. Musetti currently sits ninth in the Race to Turin rankings, trailing eighth-placed Félix Auger-Aliassime by just 160 points.
With the Canadian opting to withdraw from the Moselle Open in Metz following his runner-up finish in Paris, the door is open, but only slightly for Musetti. The Italian now faces an all-or-nothing scenario at the ATP 250 in Athens, where he must lift the trophy to surpass the Canadian and secure his spot.
The challenge, however, grows steeper with Djokovic reportedly joining the lineup, which could put Musetti’s qualification hopes in serious jeopardy.
He faces another uphill battle in Athens, needing to defeat some of the sport’s biggest names, including Djokovic, who leads their head-to-head record 8-1, to keep his Finals dream alive.
Djokovic’s situation adds an intriguing twist. Over the past five months, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has appeared in only four tournaments, including the French Open, Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Shanghai Masters.
He even retired during the Six Kings Slam third-place match against Taylor Fritz, fueling speculation about his fitness and possible withdrawal from the season finale. Yet, his ongoing participation at the 2025 Hellenic Championship appears to have dispelled those doubts, confirming he is match-ready for Turin.
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Looking ahead, top seed Novak Djokovic has earned a bye into the second round of the ATP 250 in Athens, where he is set to meet Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. It will mark their third encounter on the ATP Tour, with Tabilo leading their head-to-head 2-0. The winner will move on to face either American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri or sixth seed Nuno Borges in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, second seed Lorenzo Musetti is slated to face Swiss wildcard Stan Wawrinka in the second round. This will be their second career meeting, with Musetti having claimed victory in their lone previous matchup at the 2020 Italian Open.