Novak Djokovic sparks US Open injury fears as he pulls out of Cincinnati Open in shock announcement
On Monday, the organizers of the Cincinnati Open confirmed that Novak Djokovic would be withdrawing from the tournament.
The Cincinnati Open is the final ATP 1000 event before the US Open starts in New York City in about three weeks.
The 38-year-old Djokovic has made the semifinals at all three grand slam tournaments in 2025 - but hasn't reached the final since Wimbledon in 2024 and hasn't won since the US Open in 2023.
Djokovic was a seven-seed in Melbourne when he fell to second-seed Alexander Zverev of Germany.
He followed that up with back-to-back defeats to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros and at Wimbledon. After losing in France to Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner would take Wimbledon off the Spaniard.
Djokovic lost his Wimbledon semifinal in straight sets - 3-6, 3-6, 4-6 - and appeared hampered by an awkward fall he took on the grass toward the end of his quarterfinal win over Flavio Cobolli.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open set to begin this week
Djokovic suffered an awkward fall in his Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Flavio Cobolli
Djokovic has made the semifinals in all three previous grand slams, but lost all three as well
Djokovic, already the most prolific grand slam men's champion in history, admitted that his age is getting to him.
'I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically,' Djokovic said after Wimbledon.
'The longer the tournament goes, the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reach the semis of every Slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or [Carlos] Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp.
'I feel like I'm going into the match with tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that.'
So while the decision to skip the tournament in Ohio may raise some concern, it could also serve as a smart decision to give the Serbian star more rest before the final major of the year.
Djokovic will hope to win a fifth title in Flushing Meadows - having previously done so in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023.
The Serbian beat Rafael Nadal in 2011, Roger Federer in 2015, Juan Martin del Potro in 2018, and Daniil Medvedev in 2023.
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