Tennis star Novak Djokovic pulls out of the ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament.
Novak Djokovic Withdraws from Cincinnati Masters Ahead of US Open
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam singles title winner, has withdrawn from the 2025 ATP Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament. The Serbian tennis star, who first played in Cincinnati back in 2005, has a history with the tournament, having won at least one title there.
Djokovic's latest victory in Cincinnati came in 2023, marking his third title in the city. However, his journey to this success was not without setbacks. Prior to his 2023 win, he had lost five previous finals in Cincinnati.
The 38-year-old's recent absence from key events seems to be related to an upper left leg issue following a fall during Wimbledon and a cited groin injury that led him to skip the Toronto Masters. These injuries appear to have compromised his movement, influencing his decision to rest ahead of the US Open.
Djokovic's withdrawal from Cincinnati marks the fourth time in five years he has skipped both the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters events before the US Open. While he described the reason for withdrawing from Cincinnati as non-medical, reports suggest that injuries sustained at Wimbledon played a significant role in his decision.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, the current World number one, and Carlos Alcaraz have also decided to skip the current ATP Toronto Masters for rest and recovery from Wimbledon. Sinner has been in Cincinnati since the weekend and participated in an opening practice session at the pre-US Open event. In a light-hearted moment, Sinner and his team posted a golf course selfie to social media on Monday.
The US Open start is scheduled in three weeks, and Djokovic, who has not competed since losing in the Wimbledon semifinals in mid-July, will head directly to the US Open without playing any tune-up hard-court tournaments. This decision is interpreted as a precaution to avoid further injury and prepare for the US Open without additional matches on hard courts.
Djokovic's history in Cincinnati, marked by multiple finals losses before his last victory in 2023, underscores the challenges even the greatest players face in their quest for success. As the tennis world prepares for the US Open, the focus will be on Djokovic's recovery and whether he can add to his impressive Grand Slam tally.
Despite his history of competing in and winning the Cincinnati Masters, Novak Djokovic has opted to skip this year's tournament, citing an undisclosed reason but possibly due to the injuries he sustained at Wimbledon. As he prepares for the upcoming US Open, Djokovic will forgo any tune-up hard-court tournaments and instead focus on recovery and avoiding further injury. Meanwhile, tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have also opted out of the ATP Toronto Masters for rest and recovery from Wimbledon.
