ATP set to drop event where Djokovic won his 101st title

Novak Djokovic won’t be defending one of the ATP titles he picked up last year.

The Serbian reached his 100th career title at the Geneva Open, but it’s still unclear if he plans to return for this year’s tournament.

Geneva wasn’t his only success in 2024 either. He also came out on top at another ATP 250 event, this time on the indoor hard courts of Athens, where he now lives.

Djokovic added his 101st title by beating Lorenzo Musetti in that final, but it doesn’t look like he’ll get a chance to defend that crown either.

ATP Tour set to drop Athens Event from 2026 and 2027 schedules

The stretch of the season between the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals has often featured a rotating cast of events.

Belgrade used to fill this spot, but more recently it was the Hellenic Championship in Athens, sharing the week with the Moselle Open in Metz.

The ATP had already announced that the Moselle Open would end its 23-year run, with Stockholm stepping in as its replacement. Originally, Stockholm was scheduled to run alongside another event yet to be named.

But plans appear to have changed. There is no second tournament set for that slot anymore.

This also affects Djokovic’s schedule, as he won’t have the chance to defend his title there this year or again in 2027. During that season, Brussels will swap places with Stockholm on the calendar but still without a partner event for either city during their respective weeks.

Athens removal may influence Stan Wawrinka’s retirement plans

Novak Djokovic is not the only Grand Slam winner impacted by the tournament’s removal, as it also affects Stan Wawrinka.

Wawrinka, who plans to retire this year, recently mentioned that he was considering wrapping up his career in either Basel or Athens.

With Athens no longer an option, it looks increasingly likely that he will say goodbye to the sport in Basel.

The Swiss Indoors tournament is familiar territory for him. He has played there 19 times before, with his best showings coming in 2006 and 2011 when he reached the semifinals.

The three-time Grand Slam champion will be hoping for one last memorable performance at this year’s Swiss Indoors, which starts on October 28.

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