Novak Djokovic has announced that he will not compete in any tournaments until the US Open after withdrawing from the 2025 Cincinnati Open.
This decision means Djokovic will go into the year’s final Grand Slam without playing a single warm-up match since his semi-final defeat at Wimbledon in July.
Djokovic’s withdrawal from Cincinnati was officially listed as “non-medical,” following his previous absence from the Toronto Masters due to a groin injury.
The Serbian last played competitively on July 11 at Wimbledon, where he was defeated in straight sets by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
That semi-final loss came after Djokovic suffered a nasty fall in his quarter-final, and he appeared to struggle with movement and received treatment for his upper left leg during the match against Sinner.
The decision to skip both key hard-court Masters 1000 events, Toronto and Cincinnati, reflects Djokovic’s cautious approach at this stage in his career.
At 38 years old, Djokovic has become increasingly selective about his schedule, prioritising Grand Slams over smaller events.
In his own words, after Wimbledon, he noted the challenge of competing against younger stars like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and added that going deep in major events requires careful management of his physical condition and energy.
By missing the entire North American summer swing, Djokovic will arrive at the US Open without any hard-court match practice, a rare situation for a player of his status.
It has been nearly one month since his last competitive appearance, increasing the intrigue over how he will fare at Flushing Meadows.
Over the years, Djokovic has scored some major success at the US Open, having claimed four titles in New York, the latest coming in 2023.
However, his quest for a 25th major and a fifth US Open crown will be complicated by the lack of tune-up matches and the tough opposition from the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz.
Despite the doubts, Djokovic’s ability to rise to major occasions, especially with rest and recovery on his side, cannot be underestimated.
This season, he has claimed just one title (Geneva Open) and suffered semi-final defeats at all three majors so far, but his hunger for the sport remains strong as always, and there’s no telling what he will achieve next.
