“What are You Referring to?” Andy Roddick Urges Clarity from Novak Djokovic on ‘Monopoly’ Comment

Novak Djokovic has never been afraid to express his opinions, even when it has made him a controversial figure in tennis. Aryna Sabalenka recently described him as “very open,” and he proved that once again at the Joy Forum in Riyadh. Speaking during the Six Kings Slam event, Djokovic shared his thoughts on the state of the sport and the challenges players continue to face.

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick responded to Djokovic’s remarks on his Served podcast, questioning what exactly the Serbian meant by “the system” and “monopoly.” Roddick pointed out that Djokovic’s comments raise valid questions about how tennis is run but suggested that more clarity is needed when discussing such issues. Roddick said on Served Podcast:

When he talks about monopoly, what are you referring to: the monopoly of the circuit? The monopoly of the Grand Slams? All of that at the same time? He’s talking about the ‘system’. What system specifically are you referring to? He talks about a ‘monopoly’, but what monopoly?

Djokovic explained that he co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) with Vasek Pospisil to give players a stronger voice. However, he admitted that players still “don’t have a seat at the table” when key decisions are made, which he believes remains a major flaw in the sport’s structure. He added:

Frankly speaking, I think Novak has the best intentions . The players and the locker room in general love him, they’ve learned to value him as a true leader of the game. However, if he wants to go out there and say certain things, we’re going to say them for real.

The PTPA’s ongoing struggle for representation came to a head earlier this year when it filed a lawsuit against the ATP and WTA, citing privacy concerns and an unsustainable schedule. Djokovic did not personally join the lawsuit but continues to advocate for fairer treatment and more player involvement in decision-making.

Novak Djokovic skips Paris Masters

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has confirmed that he will not compete at the 2025 Paris Masters, scheduled from October 27 to November 2. The world No. 5 shared the news on social media without revealing the reason for his withdrawal but mentioned that he hopes to return to the event in 2026. The decision was not unexpected, as he has been selective with his schedule in recent years.

Djokovic has not played the Paris Masters since winning his record seventh title there in 2023, having also skipped the 2024 edition. The 38-year-old has limited his appearances on the ATP Tour, with the Shanghai Masters earlier this month marking just his 12th tournament of the season.

His withdrawal comes shortly after he retired during the third-place playoff at the Six Kings Slam exhibition against Taylor Fritz in Riyadh. This raised further questions about his fitness and the possibility of reducing his schedule even more in the future.

For the remainder of 2025, Djokovic has confirmed his participation at the new ATP 250 event in Athens, which will take place from November 2 to 8. He may also compete at the ATP Finals in Turin from November 9 to 16, having already qualified for the event he has won a record seven times.

Novak Djokovic’s 2025 season on par with his worst statistical tennis season

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic’s 2025 season has been one of his toughest since he won his first ATP title nearly 20 years ago. Injuries, inconsistent form, and skipped tournaments have disrupted his campaign, with the Paris Masters being the latest event he withdrew from. At 38, Djokovic has made it clear that his main focus remains the Grand Slams, but he was unable to claim any of the four this year.

Despite a lighter schedule, Djokovic has competed in 12 tournaments so far in 2025, including four Grand Slams and five Masters 1000 events. He has also qualified for the ATP Finals but has yet to confirm his participation. His current record stands at 35 wins and 11 losses, giving him a 76% winning rate — his lowest in 15 years. The last time he dipped below 80% was back in 2010.

This year, Djokovic has lifted only one trophy — the Geneva Open — marking his 100th ATP singles title. He also reached the Miami Open final but lost to Jakub Mensik. Before 2024, he had won at least two titles every season since 2006, with his peak year coming in 2015 when he captured 11 titles.

At the Grand Slams, Djokovic reached the semi-finals in all four but failed to reach a final for the first time since 2017. He retired against Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open, lost to Jannik Sinner at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open. Although he’s still competitive at the top level, 2025 has clearly been one of his most challenging seasons.

Also Read: “First, I Need To…” Alexander Zverev Reveals his Plans to Overcome Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

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