Here’s the full‑story on the situation involving Novak Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh:
🎾 What happened
Djokovic took part in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event. He faced Jannik Sinner in the semi‑final and lost in straight sets — 6‑4, 6‑2.
After the match, he addressed the crowd and the media, offering a kind of apology to the fans:
> “I’m sorry you couldn’t see a longer match today. It’s his fault, not my fault!”
He added some self‑reflection: it “felt like a runaway train” and praised Sinner’s level of play.
ℹ️ Clarifications
This was an exhibition tournament (not a regular ATP ranking event).
The “withdrawal” element you mention seems to be conflated: there is no publicised withdrawal by Djokovic from the Six Kings Slam match itself; rather, he lost in the semi‑final.
Djokovic did issue apologies in other contexts (for example his media boycott after comments by a broadcaster in Australia) but those are separate from this event.
His apology in this instance is more humorous / light‑hearted (“Sorry you couldn’t see a longer match!”) than a formal withdrawal apology.
✅ Why this is notable
It highlights Djokovic’s candour and his respect for his opponent. He acknowledged he was beaten, and he did so with humility and humour.
It emphasises the continuing challenge for veteran players: Djokovic is 38 and still competing at a high level, but the younger generation (like Sinner) are catching up and sometimes overtaking. He admitted it’s “becoming much more difficult” to beat them.
It shows his mindset: despite the loss, he remains motivated and intends to keep competing.
🔍 Additional context
The event offered significant prize‑money and exposure, though being an exhibition means its competitive stakes are different from a Grand Slam.
While Djokovic lost to Sinner, the remarks show his acceptance of the result and acknowledgment of the younger player’s strength — “he was smacking the ball from all corners” was his description.
This is part of a broader narrative where Djokovic is balancing his place as one of the greats with the reality of aging and evolving competition.