Cincinnati, Aug 7: Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has withdrawn from the 2025 Cincinnati Open, citing “non-medical reasons,” tournament organisers confirmed on Monday, August 4. This marks the second consecutive year he has skipped the Cincinnati tournament.
At 38 years old and currently ranked world No. 6, Djokovic has not competed since his straight-sets loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon back in July. His last match came two days after a ânastyâ fall during his Wimbledon quarterfinal victory, which required treatment for a leg injury that affected his movement on court.
Djokovicâs decision to withdraw from the ATP Masters 1000 eventâwhere he is a three-time championâfollows his earlier absence from the Toronto Masters, which he attributed to a groin injury.
Having played no matches since Wimbledon, the Serbian star will enter the US Open, set to begin August 24, 2025, without any competitive hard-court preparation.
Djokovic to not lose ranking points
This carefully managed schedule highlights Djokovicâs increasing focus on physical recovery and strategic planning in the later stages of his career. He is concentrating solely on the US Open as he aims for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
His last major win came at Flushing Meadows in 2023, alongside a hard-fought Cincinnati victory over Carlos Alcaraz that same year. Importantly, Djokovic will not lose ranking points for skipping Cincinnati, as he also missed the event last year.
Tournament officials expressed understanding of his decision, recognising the importance of Grand Slam preparation and Djokovicâs status as a seasoned veteran of the sport.
As the US Open draw approaches, all eyes will be on whether Djokovicâs experience and adaptability can compensate for his lack of match play. Despite missing warm-up tournaments, he remains one of the leading contenders in New York.