MASON, OHIO – AUGUST 20: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates match point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the final of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 20, 2023 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Novak Djokovic will enter the U.S. Open later this month without having played a hardcourt warm-up tournament.
The 38-year-old legend withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on Monday and has not played since reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon last month. He pulled out for a non-medical reason.
“[It’s] obviously tricky with no tournaments [going into the U.S. Open] but Djoker knows the body [and] will have to navigate the first week and get through it,” ESPN’s Brad Gilbert said via a direct message.
The 24-time-Grand Slam champion has won the Cincinnati Open three times, most recently when he saved a championship point to beat Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in an instant-classic 2023 final.
Djokovic, ranked No. 6 in the world, is bidding to win a record 25th major at the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 24. He lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
The Cincinnati Open is still headlined by Sinner and Alcaraz, with many other top stars playing.