Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the upcoming ATP 500 Qatar Open in Doha, citing strong fatigue following his Australian Open final appearance. The 24-time Grand Slam champion's absence means Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will headline the field as top seeds. Organizers expressed their disappointment and wished him a speedy recovery.
Novak Djokovic, the 38-year-old Serbian tennis star and record 24-time Grand Slam champion, withdrew from the ATP Qatar Open on February 11, 2026, five days before the main draw begins on February 16. The tournament, now in its 34th edition and upgraded to ATP 500 status in 2025, is held on outdoor hard courts at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. Djokovic cited "strong fatigue" as the reason, coming after a demanding Australian Open run where he reached his 38th major final, defeating world No. 2 Jannik Sinner in a semifinal lasting over four hours before losing to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
The Qatar ExxonMobil Open shared a statement on Instagram: "Novak Djokovic is pulling out from Doha due to strong fatigue. Qatar will miss you. Wishing you a speedy recovery." This marks another selective withdrawal for Djokovic, who has prioritized major events in recent years. He previously won the Doha title in 2016 and 2017 but exited in the first round last year, losing 7-6(4), 6-2 to Matteo Berrettini. Earlier in 2026, he skipped the Adelaide International, stating on social media: "To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I’m not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week. It’s personally very disappointing to me, as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago."
Despite Djokovic's absence, the event features a strong lineup with eight top-20 players, including defending champion Andrey Rublev (2025 winner over Jack Draper), Daniil Medvedev (2023 champion), and Karen Khachanov (2024 champion). Alcaraz and Sinner, both competing for the first time since Melbourne, are the top seeds. The total prize money is US$2,833,335, with 500 ranking points for the winner. Djokovic is expected to return in March at the Indian Wells Masters 1000, where he is entered and aims to tie Roger Federer's record of five titles there.
Djokovic's approach reflects a focus on longevity, as he explained in a US Open press conference: "My main focus is on the Grand Slams. I’m not chasing ranking points or trying to fill up my schedule like I used to." This strategy follows other recent skips, including the 2025 ATP Finals due to a shoulder injury and last year's Toronto and Cincinnati Masters for family time.
