Novak Djokovic has unexpectedly withdrawn from the ATP Cincinnati Masters, opting to bypass this traditional lead-up event and go directly to the 2021 US Open. He mentioned that the toll of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was significant, and he needs extra time to recover his strength to pursue a Grand Slam title. It's a loss for the tournament, as Djokovic has won Cincinnati twice and is the defending champion. The field still features heavy hitters and former champions such as Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov, and Andy Murray, though Roger Federer is also sidelined with a knee injury.
Djokovic is the defending champion of the Cincinnati Open and has won it two times. Former ATP champions to compete in the 2021 Cincinnati field are Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov, and Andy Murray. Former champion Roger Federer had withdrawn from the tournament due to a knee injury.
The Serbian star currently shares the record for the most Grand Slam titles—20 in total—with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. By winning the US Open, Djokovic could make history as the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win every major title in one year. Only Laver has ever managed to accomplish a singles Grand Slam twice in his career.
Djokovic used social media to let the public know he wouldn't be playing in Cincinnati. He explained that the grueling trip from Australia to Tokyo and the intensity of the Games left him depleted, and he simply isn't match-ready for Cincinnati. Instead, he is putting all his energy into the US Open. This follows an incredible run where he won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon back-to-back. His attempt to complete a 'Golden Slam' ended in heartbreak at the Tokyo Olympics, where Alexander Zverev defeated him in the semifinals, crushing his hopes for a gold medal.
Djokovic has been playing non-stop tennis tournaments, winning the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. The 20-time major champion competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games to win a Golden Slam but lost to German Alexander Zverev in the semifinal. Alexander thrashed Djokovic’s dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.
The disappointment continued when Djokovic lost the bronze medal match to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, meaning he'll have to wait another three years for another shot at Olympic glory. The match was a brutal battle, lasting nearly three hours under the suffocating heat of Tokyo. This marked a rare slump for Djokovic; for the first time since the 2019 ATP Tour finals, he suffered two consecutive singles losses.
Adding to the frustration, the 34-year-old had to withdraw from the mixed doubles bronze medal match because of a shoulder injury, ending his Olympic campaign without any hardware. This comes just as the tennis world looks toward the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the premier warm-up for the US Open. The ATP Cincinnati Open runs from August 15th to 22nd, serving as the final prelude to the US Open, which kicks off on August 30th.