Djokovic returns to the US to play after two years
Djokovic will start the Cincinnati Masters with a match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round on August 16. Nole also signed up for the doubles event. He paired with Cacic - the only Serbian in the top 100 in doubles at ATP. The Serbian tennis pair will meet Jamie Murray and Michael Venus in the first round of men's doubles today August 15.
Since the US Open 2021, Djokovic has not been able to attend any tournament in the US because he does not have a vaccine passport. With the US government lifting entry restrictions for those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, the 36-year-old tennis player is eligible to enter the US to play a series of tournaments during the August hard court season, including the Grand Slam in New York. Nole withdrew from the Rogers Cup in Canada last week due to lack of fitness.
Djokovic has won the Cincinnati Masters twice, including the last time in 2020. In 2018, he was crowned here for the first time, thereby completing the Golden Masters (winning all nine different Masters). Nole also won the US Open three times, in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
Djokovic has not played again since the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets. The goal of this year's US Open for the world number two is to equal the record of 24 Grand Slams of female legend Margaret Court.
"If I wasn't motivated after losing at Wimbledon, I wouldn't be here," Djokovic said at a press conference ahead of the Cincinnati Masters. "After many years of playing professional tennis, I feel like I have the right to choose what tournament I want to play in. I really want to be in Cincinnati, as well as the upcoming US Open."
Djokovic is 600 points behind Alcaraz on the ATP rankings, and has an advantage in the race for world number one. Alcaraz is about to have to defend 180 points at the Cincinnati Masters and 2000 points at the US Open, while Djokovic does not have to defend any points because he did not attend these two tournaments last year.
