Djokovic withdraws from Cincinnati without warning! He will not play any warm-up matches before the US Open!

Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the Cincinnati Masters, which is quite surprising, and he has no plans to play any hard court warm-up matches prior to the 2025 US Open. This decision could be related to the hip and groin issues that have plagued the Serbian player since the Wimbledon semifinals, though he has yet to clarify this matter. The news of his withdrawal was reported by "The Tennis Letter" on social media platform X.

The player, who boasts 24 Grand Slam titles, has performed remarkably in the first three Grand Slam events of this season (Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon). He reached the semifinals in all three tournaments, but ongoing injuries have hindered his progress at crucial moments.

Djokovic has won the Cincinnati Masters three times, specifically in 2018, 2020, and 2023. However, he has not participated in the tournament since his last victory, marking his second consecutive year of withdrawal.

This also means that Djokovic will head straight into the US Open with almost no hard court warm-up. His last hard court match was at the Miami Open in May, where he lost in the final to Medvedev, narrowly missing out on the championship.

In the press conference held after his loss to Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals, Djokovic expressed his deep disappointment over his poor performance. He lost with scores of 3-6, 3-6, 4-6, stating that he was not in optimal physical condition on the court.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel good on the court,” he said in the post-match conference. “I don’t want to go into detail about my injuries or complain about not being able to perform at my best. I want to congratulate Jannik on another fantastic performance. That’s it. He made it to the finals; he’s too strong.”

Djokovic also admitted that age is affecting him faster than he expected. “I am indeed very disappointed because I can't move as freely as I had anticipated. I don’t think it’s bad luck. It’s just the effects of aging and wear on the body. Despite my careful attention to my physical condition, the reality has started to hit me hard over the past year and a half, which is an unprecedented experience,” he added.

However, Djokovic stated that he hopes to regain his best form during the US Open and challenge for another Grand Slam title. “I think playing best-of-five matches, especially this year, has been really physically challenging for me. The longer the matches go on, the worse my physical condition becomes,” he said.

“I reached the semifinals in every Grand Slam this year, but I have to face guys like Sinner or Alcaraz, who are strong, young, and quick, while I feel like I’m starting with only half a tank when I step on the court, making it almost impossible to win these matches. That’s just the way it is, you know. This is a reality I must accept and face calmly, then do my best to adapt to it and make the best adjustments possible.”

Djokovic is expected to appear during the US Open “Fan Week,” participating in a newly revamped mixed doubles event, which will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from August 19 to 20. He will team up with his compatriot Danilovic, and they are one of six wildcard pairs, along with eight pairs that qualified through the main draw. The final two pairs for this event have yet to be announced.

A year ago at the US Open, Djokovic unexpectedly lost to Poprin in the third round. (Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark)