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New Delhi: Seven-time ATP Finals winner Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the season-ending tournament due to a shoulder injury, just a few hours after winning his 101st title at the Hellenic Championship.
He took almost three hours to beat Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, but will not participate in the ATP Finals, which begin on Sunday in Turin.
The Serbian said that he was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving his best. "But after today's final in Athens, I'm sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury," said Djokovic.
He also missed last year's season-ending tournament with an injury, having won his seventh title in 2023. Musetti, who needed to beat Djokovic to overtake Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime to qualify for the tournament, will replace the Serbian in the Jimmy Connors Group, with Alexander Bublik now the first alternate.
This will be the first time that two Italian singles players have qualified for the same edition of the ATP Finals, and it is also Musetti's first appearance.
He also became the oldest champion on the ATP Tour when the Serbian defeated Lorenzo Musetti to win the Hellenic Championship, lifting his 101st title on the ATP Tour on Saturday.
In a marathon clash that lasted for almost three hours between the top seeds, Djokovic lost a set against Musetti on a hard court for the first time as the Italian fought hard to win the match and seal his spot at the ATP Finals in Turin.
However, the Serbian made a comeback to take the second set, defying his age with a full-stretch split at the net to play a cross-court drop shot, which drew loud applause from the crowd.
Exhausted Djokovic was broken while serving for the title at 5-4. But the Serbian fought back to break Musetti before finding his final reserves of energy to serve out the match, surpassing Roger Federer by claiming a record 72nd hardcourt title. He was initially too tired to celebrate, but after embracing the Italian, the Serbian ripped his own t-shirt as he roared in delight.
