By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 9, 2025
Photo credit: Rolex Paris Masters Facebook
Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the season-ending ATP Finals disappointed fans.
The Grand Slam king’s absence pleases some rivals.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz admitted he’d rather face Lorenzo Musetti, who replaced Djokovic in the Jimmy Connors Group of round-robin play, than seven-time champion Djokovic in Turin.
“Well, obviously someone like Novak being in the group is always tough,” Alcaraz told the media in Turin after his 7-6(5), 6-2 opening win over Alex de Minaur. “The experience he has
in this tournament, the level he has on indoor court, it’s quite good. I lost to him in 2023, and I played great. He killed me.
“To be honest, I prefer Lorenzo. I’m not going to lie.”
Yesterday, Djokovic out-dueled Musetti in a pulsating Athens final to capture his 101st career championship. Djokovic later withdrew from Turin with a shoulder issue sending Musetti into the ATP Finals field.
“If he’s there, he deserves it because of the level he has put on the matches, the tournaments he has done this year, and the level he showed this year,” Alcaraz said of Musetti. “It was really, really
high. Let’s see how he’s going to be, how he’s going to adapt. He’s coming from Athens, and he couldn’t feel the court at all.
“But I’m sure he’s going to do great and let’s see how is going to be.”
