Djokovic Withdraws From Cincinnati Open For Non-medical Reasons

Djokovic withdraws from Cincinnati Open for non-medical reasons (Image Source: IANS)

The Cincinnati Open: World number six and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open, the organisers said.

The 38-year-old Serbian, who has reached three Grand Slam semifinals so far in 2025, was scheduled to make his first hard-court appearance since his semifinal defeat at Wimbledon in July, cited “non-medical reasons” for his withdrawal.

Djokovic's withdrawal follows his earlier decision to skip the Canadian Masters in Toronto, citing a groin injury, marking two consecutive missed ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.

The three-time champion owns a 45-12 tournament record at the ATP Masters 1000, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index. In his most recent appearance at the event, he saved a championship point to beat Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in an instant-classic 2023 final.

Djokovic is 26-9 this season, a year in which he won his 100th tour-level title in Geneva in May. He has played just two events since that triumph, reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon but losing to Jannik Sinner at both majors.

Djokovic is next scheduled to play at the US Open, where main-draw action begins Aug. 24. He is pursuing his 25th Grand Slam title, which would set an all-time record for men’s and women’s singles combined, tying the record currently held by Margaret Court on the women’s side.

Djokovic is 26-9 this season, a year in which he won his 100th tour-level title in Geneva in May. He has played just two events since that triumph, reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon but losing to Jannik Sinner at both majors.

The Cincinnati Open begins on Thursday and has undergone a major transformation as it expands to a two-week, 96-player event in 2025, coinciding with a USD 260 million campus renovation. This expansion aims to enhance both player and fan experiences, with the addition of new courts. The final will be played on August 18.

Article Source: IANS