'I'm taking a bit longer to recover' - Novak Djokovic withdraws from Cincinnati Open as he targets history at US Open
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Updated 10/08/2021 at 08:05 GMT
Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open in order to spend time with his family and recuperate before bidding for a piece of history at the US Open. The world number one is bidding to become only the sixth singles player in history to complete a calendar Grand Slam, while he would be the first man to reach 21 major titles with victory at Flushing Meadows.
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Novak Djokovic of Team Serbia leaves the court after his defeat by Pablo Carreno Busta of Team Spain in the Men's Singles bronze medal match on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 31, 2021 in Tok
Image credit: Getty Images
World number one Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Western & Southern Open due to his exertions at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Djokovic, a two-time winner of the event in Cincinnati, said in a statement on Monday that he planned to give his body a rest and spend some time with his family ahead of the start of the US Open on 30 August.
The Serb is bidding to become only the sixth singles player in history to complete a calendar Grand Slam. Victory at Flushing Meadows would also make him the first man to win 21 major singles titles, edging him ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
However, he has competed on a hectic schedule since the start of the Australian Open in February.
Djokovic had hoped to add an Olympic gold medal to his potential Slam clean sweep, but saw his Tokyo 2020 hopes ended by German Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
He then lost the bronze medal match to Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta and withdrew from the mixed doubles, at the same stage, with a shoulder injury.
"Dear Nole Fam, I wanted to share with you that I am taking a bit longer to recover and recuperate after quite a taxing journey from Australia to Tokyo," Djokovic wrote on social media.
"Sadly, that means I won’t be ready to compete in Cincinnati this year so I’ll turn my focus and attention to US Open and spend some more time with family. See you in New York soon!”
Five former men's champions, Andy Murray, Daniil Medvedev, Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic and Nadal, remain in the men's main draw in Cincinnati, which is scheduled to get under way on Sunday.
Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova are among the big names in contention for the women's title.
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