When will Novak Djokovic return to tennis action after withdrawing from ATP Qatar Open?
(Courtesy : @djokernole/Instagram)
The Serbian cited fatigue and tight scheduling as the reason for skipping Doha.
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP 500 Qatar Open in Doha, scheduled to begin on February 16, 2026, citing strong fatigue following his demanding run at the Australian Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian, now ranked World No. 3 after reaching his 11th Melbourne final thereby becoming the oldest in the tournament’s history, opted out just days after the January event.
He delivered a stunning five-set semi-final upset over defending champion Jannik Sinner before falling to World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the final. The grueling high-intensity matches against top young talents took a significant physical and mental toll on the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Also Read: Five records created by Novak Djokovic after his 2026 Australian Open campaign
Tournament organizers confirmed the withdrawal on Wednesday, with a statement reading: “Novak Djokovic is pulling out from Doha due to strong fatigue. Qatar will miss you. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Despite the two-time Doha champion’s absence, the ATP field is stacked with the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner, who headline the draw alongside Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev.
This decision aligns with Djokovic’s recent selective scheduling strategy. At his age, he prioritizes rest and recovery to peak for Grand Slams and major Masters events rather than a packed calendar.
He has skipped numerous tournaments in recent years after deep runs, and with only 10 points to defend in Doha, the move avoids unnecessary strain without affecting his ranking.
Also Read: Why Novak Djokovic withdraw from ATP Qatar Open 2026 after final run in Melbourne?
After Qatar Open withdrawal, when will Novak Djokovic return to tennis action?
Djokovic is next expected to target the North American hard-court swing. He remains on the entry list for the Indian Wells Masters 1000 event which is scheduled for the first week of March. Djokovic holds a joint-record five titles and will get a first-round bye as a seeded player.
However, given his pattern of caution and the need for full recovery, he is likely to skip Indian Wells to ensure peak condition. Instead, the Serbian appears poised to return at the Miami Open, another Masters 1000 event later in March.
He was runner-up there in 2025, losing a tight final to young Czech star Jakub Mensik in two tiebreaks 7-6(4), 7-6(4), thereby denying him a seventh Miami crown and his 100th career title then.
Significant points from that finalist performance are at stake, making Miami a key priority post the Australian Open 2026.
Why did Novak Djokovic withdraw from ATP Qatar Open 2026?
Djokovic cited fatigue as his reason for pulling out of the ATP 500 Qatar Open 2026 following his final run at Australian Open.
When will Novak Djokovic next be in tennis action?
Djokovic is likely to return to tennis action at the ATP 1000 Masters Indian Wells, which will be played from March 1-15.
How many tournaments has Novak Djokovic competed in in 2026?
Djokovic has only competed at the Australian Open this season.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.