Novak Djokovic, the world's third-ranked tennis player and runner-up at the Australian Open, has officially withdrawn from the Qatar Open. The announcement, made by the tournament organizers via Instagram, cites significant exhaustion as the reason for his withdrawal. Djokovic was preparing to compete in Qatar, marking his first tournament since losing to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final earlier this month.

With Djokovic's exit, the spotlight turns to Carlos Alcaraz, the current world number one, and his closest competitor, Italy's Jannik Sinner. Both players were looking forward to their first tournament since the Australian Open, and with Djokovic out of the picture, they emerge as the key contenders for the Doha title. The Qatar Open is set to take place from February 16 to 21, making it a crucial event for players seeking to build momentum for the upcoming season.

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is expected to return to competitive play at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, USA, from March 4 to 15. His focus is shifting towards these higher-ranking tournaments, emphasizing his strategy as he approaches the latter stages of his career at nearly 38 years old. The dynamics of the Qatar Open will be significantly altered in Djokovic's absence, reshaping the competitive landscape for players.