Novak Djokovic 'Doesn't Enjoy' Masters Anymore: 'I Earned My Right And...'

Last Updated:August 23, 2025, 17:04 IST

Novak Djokovic said he doesn't enjoy two-week Masters anymore and prefers to use the time with his family.

Novak Djokovic (AP Photo)

Novak Djokovic is happy to begin the U.S. Open without a competitive match since Wimbledon, having done ‘a lot of training in the last three, four weeks’. He admitted that he doesn’t enjoy Masters Events anymore and wants to use that time with his family, instead of putting most of his focus on the four Grand Slams.

The Serbian, chasing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, once known for having the toughest schedule in the world, has eased off a bit. He skipped this month’s hard-court tune-ups in Toronto and Cincinnati, saying that he has ‘earned the right’ to pick and choose his appearances.

“I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family," the 38-year-old Djokovic told reporters on Friday, as quoted by Reuters. “To be honest, I think I earned my right and have the luxury of kind of choosing where I want to go and what I want to play. To be quite frank with you, I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore. It’s just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the slams."

Djokovic, world number seven and the co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association, also weighed in on the debate over the extended two-week Masters events, which are facing a ton of criticism from players and fans alike. He called the contracts ‘quite solid… 30-year contracts,’ and said while he supported players’ antagonistic views, called them out for not engaging fully with the negotiations.

“This is an ongoing story of the players expressing their feelings, but when you really need to put in the time and energy into conversations and meetings… it’s necessary because you’re doing something not only for yourself but for future generations," he added.

Further, Djokovic called recent prize money increases at the Grand Slams a ‘step in the right direction’, but said more work is needed.

“Not many tennis players live out of this sport globally. That’s not something that I see has been talked about enough," he said. “Then there is the inflation part, which is a completely different topic, but important to take in consideration when you talk about these things."

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August 23, 2025, 17:04 IST

News sports Novak Djokovic 'Doesn't Enjoy' Masters Anymore: 'I Earned My Right And...'

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