Novak Djokovic withdraws from next tournament as Serb sets return date

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's Cincinnati Open as he looks to nurture his body ahead of the US Open. The veteran Serb has not played a competitive match since Wimbledon, where he was comfortably beaten by Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals. He will be hoping to get back to winning ways when he returns to Flushing Meadows at the end of this month.

Djokovic has made a habit of skipping lesser tournaments in order to prioritise his physical conditions for Grand Slam events. Last month, he opted to skip the Canadian Open alongside a host of other players. Now, it has been confirmed that Djokovic has also decided to sit out of next week's tournament in Cincinnati.

It marks the second year in a row that Djokovic has withdrawn from the event, having previously won it on three occasions. It also means that he will not have played a competitive match between Wimbledon and the start of the upcoming US Open.

Djokovic will most likely be in action at the revamped mixed doubles competition, which takes place a week before the singles draw gets underway. He has been handed a wildcard entry alongside fellow Serbian player Olga Danilovic.

It remains to be seen if Djokovic will benefit from skipping the Cincinnati Open, having admitted that it is getting harder to cope with the physical demands of playing so many tournaments.

Speaking after Wimbledon, he said: "I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically.

"The longer the tournament goes, the worse the condition gets. I reach the semis of every Slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or [Carlos] Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with tank half empty."

Nick Kyrgios, meanwhile, recently claimed that Djokovic might decide to call it quits in the near future. The outspoken Aussie suggested that his former rival could be starting to lose the motivation that he once had.

"I think he's got to be finished soon," said Kyrgios. "Like, come on... what more? I asked him this at Indian Wells this year. We were in the locker room and I said: 'Why are you here? Why are you playing?' He just goes: 'I don't know'.

"I go: 'What about your kids? I know you want to spend time with your family'. He said: 'Yeah, I don't know'. That was the first time I think he misses his family a lot. I stay in touch with him all the time.

"I can't see him playing for more than another year. Not again. Not the whole year again. He is so professional. I am just speaking from my experience if I had a family like his and kids."