The tennis world is abuzz with dramatic developments as the 2025 season barrels toward its conclusion, with headline-making withdrawals, fresh title triumphs, and the looming intrigue of the year-end ATP Finals. From Novak Djokovic’s Paris absence and Jannik Sinner’s Davis Cup decision, to Daniil Medvedev’s long-awaited return to the winner’s circle and Victoria Mboko’s resurgence, the sport’s biggest names are shaping the narrative in compelling ways.
On October 21, 2025, Novak Djokovic officially announced he would not compete at the upcoming Paris Masters, scheduled from October 27 to November 2. The 24-time Grand Slam champion delivered the news directly to his fans, stating on social media, “Dear Paris, unfortunately I’ll not compete at this year’s (tournament). I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title 7 times. Hope to see you next year.” Djokovic’s decision comes after a physically taxing semi-final loss to Valentin Vacherot at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month. The world watched in concern as Djokovic, clearly struggling, vomited courtside and required multiple medical interventions during the match.
This withdrawal marks the second consecutive year Djokovic has opted out of the Paris Masters, a move that reflects his strategic reduction in tournament appearances as he chases an unprecedented 25th major title. Last week, he was also forced to abandon his third-place match against Taylor Fritz at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, adding to concerns about his physical readiness as the season winds down.
Djokovic’s absence isn’t the only blow to the Paris Masters draw. World number 10 Holger Rune announced on the same day that he is sidelined after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery. Rune expressed optimism about his recovery on Instagram, writing, “Surgery went really well… I will keep you updated on my recovery. But now rest and heal.” The Dane’s withdrawal further shakes up a tournament already missing some of its marquee stars.
Meanwhile, the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, set for November 18-23, has its own set of surprises. Italy, the two-time defending champion, will be without Jannik Sinner, their highest-ranked player and national hero. Sinner, who captured both the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2025 but also served a three-month doping ban this year, has chosen not to participate. Italian tennis federation president Angelo Binaghi acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating, “While it’s still very agonizing for us, we understand and respect Jannik’s decision, which comes at the end of a long and intense season. We’re sure he will wear the national team shirt again soon.” Team captain Filippo Volandri confirmed, “Jannik Sinner didn’t make himself available,” and named Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, Simone Bolelli, and Andrea Vavassori to the squad, with up to three substitutions allowed before play begins.
The Davis Cup field remains stacked, however, with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz confirmed for the Spanish squad. Alcaraz will be joined by Jaume Munar, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers, with a fifth team member yet to be announced. Spain faces the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, and could meet Germany or Argentina in the semis. Alexander Zverev leads Germany’s charge, while Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, ranked eighth in the world, will look to fill some of the void left by Sinner’s absence. Italy is drawn to face Austria, and elsewhere, France will take on Belgium for a spot in the semifinals. The stage is set for a fiercely competitive Davis Cup finale, but Sinner’s decision has certainly shifted the balance of power.
While some stars step back, others are charging forward. Daniil Medvedev, the mercurial Russian and former world number one, has finally turned his season around by capturing his first ATP title of 2025 at the Almaty Open in Kazakhstan. The ATP 250 event saw Medvedev, seeded second, break a two-year title drought and collect the 21st trophy of his career—remarkably, each in a different city. The victory is a much-needed boost after a turbulent year that saw Medvedev drop to 14th in the ATP rankings, part ways with his coach of eight years, and suffer three consecutive first-round exits at Grand Slam events. His frustration boiled over at the US Open, where he smashed his racket and later engaged in a candid, 45-minute phone call with Andy Roddick about his career crossroads.
Roddick, sharing insights from their conversation on his podcast, revealed, “He said if I had bad results three or four years ago, I kind of always knew that it would turn around. Right now I don’t know. That is funny. You can’t lie to tennis based on past accomplishments. You kind of have to restart over and over. It’s the greatest thing ever.” Former players and coaches, including Steve Johnson and Paul Annacone, have weighed in on Medvedev’s prospects for the ATP Finals in Turin next month. Johnson remarked on Tennis Channel, “I just feel as if there’s only one spot really up for grabs. It’s that [Lorenzo] Musetti spot… But I’m looking down at the bottom and Daniil Medvedev. I like it. He’s somebody that has had a lot of success.” Annacone added, “He can get so hot and he’s so accustomed to winning at the top of the game. And the big boost with the title today, it might be just what he needs to finish strong.”
As of October 21, Medvedev sits 13th in the Race to Turin, with only one realistic spot available for the year-end showdown. Notably, he won the Paris Masters in 2020 and went on to claim the ATP Finals that same year, but with Djokovic out and Rune injured, the door could be open for another deep run—if he can ride this momentum.
Elsewhere, Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko is making headlines of her own. On October 21, the 19-year-old world No. 23 snapped a two-month singles drought by defeating compatriot and doubles partner Bianca Andreescu 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. It was Mboko’s first match win since her breakout triumph at the Canadian Open in August. She later teamed up with Andreescu for a dramatic doubles victory, coming from behind to best Emiliana Arango and Zeynep Sonmez. Mboko credited her renewed energy to the Toronto Blue Jays’ historic run to the World Series, saying, “I think it’s amazing and it has me so pumped and I’m just cheering from afar as much as I can.” Reflecting on her return to form, she added, “It does feel a little bit of a relief though, to kind of get that out of the way and try to build momentum on it.”
Mboko, who was ranked 291st just a year ago, dictated play against the 2019 US Open champion Andreescu and now looks ahead to a last-16 clash with qualifier Eva Lys. Her rapid rise and resilient mindset are turning heads as the WTA season nears its own climax.
With legends like Djokovic and Sinner stepping back, and rising stars like Mboko and Medvedev surging forward, tennis fans are in for a whirlwind finish to 2025. As the ATP Finals and Davis Cup approach, the only certainty is that the drama is far from over.
