By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday August 8, 2024
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has elected to skip the Cincinnati Open in 2024.
The event introduced the information on Thursday.
“We definitely perceive that it’s a fast turnaround from his Olympic triumph to return to Cincinnati,” mentioned Event Director Bob Moran. “His title run right here final yr was so memorable. We’re desirous to see him on court docket once more quickly.”
Djokovic’s withdrawal strikes Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard into the draw.
Djokovic received his 99th ATP title on the Olympics on Sunday. It’s been a busy season with Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympics all happening inside two months, so it is sensible for Djokovic to elect to relaxation, recharge and proceed rehabbing his surgically repaired proper knee previous to the US Open, which begins in lower than three weeks.
I may by no means surrender on the dream of profitable this gold medal, simply because the folks of Serbia have by no means given up on me. Collectively, we believed within the unattainable. Whereas I would be the one holding this medal, I would like each Serbian to know that it belongs to all of us.
Representing our… pic.twitter.com/m6GMFR4fnQ
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 6, 2024
Djokovic might be missed within the Queen metropolis: the Serbian owns a 45-12 file on the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court occasion, triumphing in 2018, 2020 and 2023. He defeated Carlos Alcaraz in an epic third-set tiebreak in final yr’s remaining.
The 37-year-old is 29-7 on the season and can bid for his twenty fifth main title at this yr’s US Open.