Fans Accuse Novak Djokovic of Forcing Lorenzo Musetti to Play in Athens After ATP Finals Withdrawal – “So So Immature”

Amidst speculation about his withdrawal, Novak Djokovic was adamant that he would only confirm his ATP Finals participation after the Hellenic Championship. The first edition of the ATP 250 event in Athens was concluded on November 8 and saw the Serb beat Lorenzo Musetti in three sets in the final to win his career’s 101st singles title.

Djokovic later announced that he would once again withdraw from the year-end tournament because of a lingering shoulder injury. This is the second consecutive time that the Serb won’t be featuring in the ATP Finals. He is the tournament’s most successful player, winning seven titles, the last of which he clinched in 2023 by defeating World No.1 Jannik Sinner.

The fate of Musetti as well as Felix Auger-Aliassime‘s ATP Finals participation lay in the hands of Djokovic. Had Djokovic played the ATP Finals, Musetti wouldn’t have gotten the chance to make his debut, with Auger-Aliassime becoming the eighth player to book a ticket to Turin.

Djokovic’s withdrawal ensured the qualification of the Canadian and the Italian ace. This is the first time the ATP Finals will feature two Italian players (Musetti and Sinner).

Fans slam Novak Djokovic for his last-minute ATP Finals decision

Novak Djokovic, in spite of being the man with the most Grand Slam titles, continues to be a polarizing figure. On social media, his critics accused him of forcing Lorenzo Musetti to play in Athens, arguing that he should have announced his decision beforehand if not playing the ATP Finals was already at the back of his mind.

Check out the reactions here:

Djokovic forcing Musetti to play Athens for no reason, using up tons of injury and killing chances of doing anything in Turin

also messing up the groups by withdrawing after the draw ceremony

just a typical Djokovic move

— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) November 8, 2025

Typical of Joker. Wonder how Félix Auger-Aliassime feels?

— Enda McCaffrey (@CaffreyEnda) November 8, 2025

That man is shameless personified and has always been that way.

— Pape: European Champion! (@melvinwpeters) November 8, 2025

1 billion percent. i've been saying this ever since he forced Musetti to play in Athens even when he knew that he had no intention of playing in Turin

— rick marsonet (@RMarsonet) November 8, 2025

Poor Musseti, just got a free pass into the finals.
Bad Novak for handing it out

— Tennis Otherwise (@OtherwiseTennis) November 8, 2025

Djokovic has always believed that he himself is bigger than the sport and he still believes so. He can do whatever he wants to do.

— FedalSincaraz (@FedalS95337) November 9, 2025

He should've say it on time. This is a spite to ATP Finals organization to mess it all up. Such an arrogant.

— Monnie (@monnietw) November 9, 2025

So so immature…

— MaZ (@mafata_zandile) November 8, 2025

You hit the nail on the head without even knowing it. If Djokovic announces he is not going to Turin early, Musetti bails, depriving those who paid to see the best possible final to get what they paid for. Yup, it's a totally typical Djokovic move. The paying fans come first.

— Βυρωνας–Killed–By–Bots (@Brnas05576799) November 8, 2025

The Athens title was Djokovic’s second trophy of the season. Prior to Athens, he defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the Geneva Open. The last ATP 500 or above category title the Serb lifted was the 2024 Paris Olympics by beating Carlos Alcaraz.

Musetti once again failed to win his third title of his career. The last time he won a title was at the 2022 Tennis Napoli Cup, and since then, he has lost six finals, including three this year. The 23-year-old has so far played just one final where a Big Title is on the line. It’s in this year’s Monte Carlo Masters where he lost in three sets to Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz prefers Lorenzo Musetti over Novak Djokovic

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz would have met Djokovic in his second round-robin match had the 38-year-old featured in the ATP Finals. It would have been their second meeting in the season-ending event following the semifinal of the 2023 ATP Finals, which Djokovic won without breaking a sweat. In the pre-tournament press conference, the six-time Grand Slam champion admitted that he prefers to play Musetti to the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

I’m not going to lie, I prefer Lorenzo over Djokovic in my group. It is always difficult to face Novak here because of the experience he has and his level on these courts. I lost to him in the 2023 semifinals, and I think he played well; and he killed me.

Alcaraz has never progressed beyond the semifinals of the ATP Finals and has just one indoor hardcourt title to his name (this year’s Rotterdam Open). He went past Alex de Minaur in his first round-robin match to schedule his second match against Musetti, against whom he holds a 6-1 head-to-head lead.

Alcaraz will end the season as the No.1 player if he wins the title. He was dethroned from the top by Sinner after his Paris Masters win. Before Turin, Alcaraz also played the Paris Masters, but his campaign ended in complete disappointment as he lost in his opening-round match. Musetti will lock horns with Taylor Fritz in his debut match.

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