Novak Djokovic has decided to pull out of the 2026 Qatar Open. According to the tournament, the Serb cited fatigue as the reason for his withdrawal, having competed in the Australian Open final just days before the event.
Amid his break from tennis, Djokovic has been enjoying the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 2026 Qatar Open will feature a strong field despite the 38-year-old’s absence, led by the world’s two top-ranked players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic Withdraws From Qatar Open As Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Gear Up for ATP 500 Event
The tournament announced the Serb’s withdrawal on Wednesday. “Novak Djokovic is pulling out from Doha due to strong fatigue,” the post read.
The Doha event is one that Djokovic usually competes in, given his sponsorship commitments. He has also won the title twice (2016, 2017). At last year’s event, he crashed out in the opening round against Matteo Berrettini.
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While Djokovic has withdrawn from the Doha field, Alcaraz and Sinner have started their preparations for the ATP 500 event. The Italian has already landed in the capital city ahead of the tournament. The Spaniard, meanwhile, was spotted training at his academy on Tuesday.
Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open to complete his career Grand Slam. Sinner was beaten by the Serb in a hard-fought semifinal that spanned five sets.
The Qatar Open field includes Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, and defending champion Andrey Rublev, among others.
What Has Djokovic Been up to Amid Tennis Break
Amid his break from tennis, Djokovic has been attending the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The tennis legend was spotted watching the team figure skating final on Sunday, accompanied by his wife and son.
He was seen with his hands over his head after being left in awe by Ilia Malinin’s incredible performance that secured the gold medal for Team USA.
In addition, Djokovic also attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. After the event, Djokovic refused to rule out competing at the 2028 LA Olympics.
Djokovic is, of course, the reigning Olympic champion in men’s tennis. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, the 24-time Grand Slam winner finally ended his quest for Olympic gold. He emerged victorious in men’s singles at Roland-Garros, defeating Alcaraz in the final.
