Djokovic's Shock Exit from Turin Finale: Musetti Seizes the Seat in Turin’s Big Show

Djokovic Withdraws, Musetti Gets His Turin Ticket

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian great who has dominated the tour for years, announced on Sunday that he will withdraw from the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin due to an ongoing shoulder problem. The decision comes on the heels of his Athens triumph the night before, a 101st career title for the 38-year-old legend that keeps him chasing records even as age catches up with him. With Djokovic out, Lorenzo Musetti will step in to replace him in Group Jimmy Connors, and Alexander Bublik has been named as the first alternate.

In Athens, Djokovic defeated Musetti in the final (4-6, 6-3, 7-5) to seal the trophy, extending his remarkable run and keeping him squarely in the hunt for more milestones. The loss would typically have kept Musetti from Turin, but Djokovic’s injury grants the young Italian a late-entry opportunity into the season-ending event.

At 23, Musetti has been the breakout story of the season. He has reached at least the semifinals in all three Masters 1000 events on clay this year and made his first Masters/Grand Slam quarterfinal run at Roland Garros, followed by advances to the semis in Madrid and Rome and a deep run at the US Open lead-ups. His sustained form has earned him a coveted place in Turin, where he will join a stacked field.

Two Italians in the same Finals is a first: Musetti joins Jannik Sinner in the field. Djokovic’s withdrawal also means he has joined the pantheon of players who routinely flirt with historic finals counts; the record for most finals remains a benchmark that Federer has long held, with Djokovic inching closer as he adds another competitive chapter to his career. At 38, Djokovic remains the oldest player among the contenders and carries a 24-major tally on his resume, still chasing more milestones as the calendar winds down.

Meanwhile, Musetti’s ongoing ascent has him entering Turin amid even greater expectations. The Italian has been a consistent force this season, climbing the Masters ladder with strong showings in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, and pushing into the mix at Roland Garros and the US Open. His emergence has energized Italian tennis and offered a compelling counterpoint to the established stars in Turin’s spotlight.

In the other big-picture update, the schedule for 2025’s ATP calendar was shaped by players’ voices. Cincinnati Open, the Doha Open (ExxonMobil), and the Nordea Open in Bastad were selected as marquee events in 2025, with Cincinnati winning the 1,000-point title, Doha promoted to 500 points, and Bastad continuing its long-running tradition with another trophy. The decisions reflect player feedback and the evolving calendar as the sport plans ahead.

As Turin approaches, Musetti faces a demanding test in a group that also features Sinner, Zverev, and Ben Shelton. The Italian’s path through the year has been marked by rapid growth, and a successful run in Turin would cement his status as a serious threat to the sport’s established order.

Punchline time: If this were a video game, Djokovic would press ‘Pause’ to treat his shoulder while Musetti hits ‘Resume’ and insta-levels in the Final’s final act. Sniper tangent: coaching tip—when life serves you a shoulder injury, pivot and swing for the decoys; sometimes the scoreboard reads differently from the sofa.
Punchline 2: Musetti’s rise is so fast that even his strings filed a tax return, claiming they’ve earned a “net” gain this season.