Novak Djokovic, the 37-year-old Serbian tennis star and recent Olympic gold medalist, has withdrawn from the upcoming Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament. This decision comes just days after Djokovic’s historic triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he secured his first Olympic gold medal by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a tightly contested final, with scores of 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2).Tournament director Bob Moran expressed understanding of Djokovic’s decision, stating, ‘We certainly understand that it is a quick turnaround from his Olympic triumph to come to Cincinnati’. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and three-time winner of the Cincinnati tournament, will be replaced in the main draw by 21-year-old French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.The withdrawal raises questions about Djokovic’s preparation strategy for the upcoming US Open, scheduled to begin on August 26 in New York. As the defending champion, Djokovic’s focus appears to be on ensuring he is in peak condition for the final Grand Slam of the year.Meanwhile, in other tennis news, world number one Jannik Sinner made a strong start to his North American hard court campaign at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The 22-year-old Italian, returning from a bout of tonsillitis that forced him to miss the Olympics, defeated Croatia’s Borna Coric 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour and a half. Sinner, who is defending his title from last year’s tournament in Toronto, will face either Lorenzo Sonego or Alejandro Tabilo in the next round.
Key points
- Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament following his Olympic gold medal win.
- Jannik Sinner defeated Borna Coric in straight sets at the Montreal tournament, marking a strong return after missing the Olympics due to tonsillitis.
- The US Open, where Djokovic is the defending champion, is set to begin on August 26 in New York.
