Spanish media source Marca reports that Serbian star Novak Djokovic is interested in playing the US Open this year. Prior to the COVID-19 disruptions in March 2020, the top-ranked player had a perfect record across 18 matches. It appears he is now looking to complete his second career slam during the tournament at Flushing Meadows.
Novak Djokovic is currently spending time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country that was slated to host part of his Adria Tour exhibition. While the tour began in Belgrade and Zadar, it was intended to wrap up with events in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. Unfortunately, the tour was cut short and heavily criticized after a string of players tested positive for the coronavirus.
Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, eventually tested positive for the virus themselves, leading to a mandatory 14-day isolation period. By the time they completed their quarantine, both had tested negative. Other Adria Tour participants who suffered similar fates included Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov, and Viktor Troicki, along with Troicki's pregnant wife.
The report highlights that Djokovic was the first among the top 100 ATP players in their social media group to warn that the US Open might be cancelled, citing the rising infection rates and strict lockdowns across the United States.
Adding to the complexity, athletes competing in the US Open would face a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon returning to Europe. This requirement would force them to skip the Rome and Madrid Opens before heading to Roland Garros in Paris. Meanwhile, there is talk that Rafael Nadal might skip the tournament due to health concerns, though some speculate he would still try to defend his title at Flushing Meadows.