Defending ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the season-ending event in Turin through injury.

:Defending ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the season-ending event in Turin through injury, the Serbian said on Tuesday.The record 24-times Grand Slam champion's absence means that Norway's Casper Ruud, Australian Alex de Minaur and Russian Andrey Rublev are all guaranteed to qualify for

Serb sits sixth in the ATP's annual rankings to determine the 8 competitors at the Finals

Novak Djokovic defeated Italy's Jannik Sinner in the ATP Finals last year. He has won the finals a record number of seven times. However, the Serbian great will not be able to defend his title this year as he has pulled out of it.

Novak Djokovic said on Tuesday he will not defend his ATP Finals title due to an "ongoing injury" which has ended the 24-time Grand Slam champion's season. Tennis icon Djokovic was one of four players still battling for one of three remaining places at the season-ending event in Turin, which…

Novak Djokovic is currently fifth in the standings after limiting his schedule in tennis - and his absence from the ATP Finals could see him plummet as low as ninth ahead of the Australian Open next year