Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Qatar Open, delaying his return to the court.
The Serb had been scheduled to make his first appearance since the Australian Open in Doha but won’t be making the trip.
Fans will have to wait a bit longer to see the 24-time Grand Slam winner back in action after he withdrew from the event.
So why did Djokovic decide not to play in Qatar?
The tournament’s official Instagram account gave an update on why he’s not taking part.
Novak Djokovic withdraws from Qatar Open due to fatigue
“Novak Djokovic is pulling out from Doha due to strong fatigue,” the Qatar Open said.
“Qatar will miss you.
“Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Djokovic would have gone into the tournament as the number-three seed and one of the top picks to win.
The Serb is a two-time champion and holds a 15-3 record at the Qatar Open.
Now, his focus will shift to Indian Wells and the Miami Open, which make up the Sunshine Double Masters 1000 events.
In 2025, Djokovic lost his opening match at Indian Wells but managed a strong run in Miami, where he reached the final before falling to Jakub Mensik. He’ll be looking to go one step further in 2026.
The real question is whether he’ll be fit enough this time around. Although his decision to skip Doha seemed precautionary, at 38 years old, Djokovic isn’t likely to enter any tournament unless he’s fully prepared.
The good news for him is that Indian Wells doesn’t start until early March, giving him several more weeks to recover and prepare for a stronger showing this year.
Djokovic’s Qatar Open withdrawal opens the door for Alcaraz and Sinner
While Djokovic’s absence is a blow for the tournament and his supporters, it certainly shifts the balance in favour of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The top two players in the world now find themselves with a much easier path to the final, at least on paper.
With Djokovic out, it’s easy to picture Alcaraz and Sinner squaring off in the championship match.
Still, that outcome is far from guaranteed. Neither player has lifted this particular trophy before, and both will have something to prove.
Sinner, in fact, has yet to play a match at this event. He missed last year’s tournament due to suspension.
Alcaraz didn’t fare much better on his debut either, falling to Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals back in 2025.
This year though, both are already on-site and eager to make an impact. The Spaniard arrived over the weekend to begin training, while Sinner followed early this week.
Whether one of them can claim their first Qatar Open title remains to be seen. But with Djokovic out of the picture, there’s no doubt they’ll be among the favourites when play gets underway on Monday 16 February.
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