Novak Djokovic could have misplaced some other shot at being the primary guy since Rod Laver to script the elite Calendar Slam in males’s singles tennis since 1968 after struggling a surprise defeat within the Wimbledon 2023 ultimate in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz, however the goal for an unheard of twenty fourth Major stays a dream for the Serb who now eyes a go back to america Open for the primary time in two years. And forward of the fourth and ultimate Grand Slam of the yr, Djokovic printed his plan to organize for New York, days after claiming that he hopes for some other assembly with Alcaraz.
It has been 5 days since global tennis has moved clear of Wimbledon with couple of clay court docket occasions underway in Hamburg and Bastad and Croatia Open but to begin prior to the North American hardcourt swing will get underway in Washington from July finish onwards.
Djokovic had ignored all the tennis occasions in North America within the closing two years owing his stance over Covid vaccination which stood in opposition to the principles of access for international vacationers amid the pandemic. The 36-year-old ignored six Masters 1000 occasions in all between 2021 and 2022 together with america Open. But with america executive easing at the restriction for world vacationers, Djokovic will in spite of everything have the ability to participate within the no longer simply america Open, but in addition the tune-up occasions.
Speaking to Serbian outlet Sport Klub an afternoon after the Wimbledon loss, Djokovic printed his plan for the preparation for the Slam at Flushing Meadows. He will handiest seem within the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, and can pass over the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The latter will start from August 7 onwards, adopted through the Cincinnati Masters from August 13 onwards. The ultimate preparatory match would be the ATP 250 match in Winston-Salem from August 20 prior to the Major starts from August 28 onwards in New York.
“Yes, that’s the plan for now – I will play in Cincinnati as preparation for New York,” he stated.
Djokovic eyes Alcaraz revenge
The global No.2 suffered a heartbreaking loss within the Wimbledon ultimate in 4 hours and 42 mins with Alcaraz scripting a 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win. It was once the Spaniard’s first ever win in opposition to Djokovic in a Grand Slam assembly and 2d total in 3 ATP conferences after the 2022 Madrid Open semis. However, the 23-time Grand Slam winner is already eyeing a fourth assembly with Alcaraz at america Open, the place the 20-year-old will head as a protecting champion.
“I’m hoping we get to play in US Open. Why no longer? he had advised journalists. “I believe it is excellent for the game, No 1 and No 2 on the planet dealing with every different in nearly a five-hour, five-set mystery. Couldn’t be higher for our game basically, so why no longer?”
Djokovic has lifted the US Open title three times in his career, the last being in 2018. He did have the chance in 2021 when he had reached the final with a win away from a monumental Calendar Slam before losing in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev. Overall, he has an 81-13 record in New York with eight finals and 12 appearances in semi-finals.