Novak Djokovic’s preparation for the US Open has been thrown into question after the Serbian star skipped both the Canadian Open in Toronto and the Cincinnati Masters. The 38-year-old, who has not played since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner last month, continues to face speculation over his fitness.
Especially as a video surfaced online this past weekend showing Djokovic training in Montenegro. In the clip, the world No. 7 is seen receiving treatment on his right leg from longtime physio Claudio Zamaglia before gingerly walking to the baseline to serve.
Djokovic was struggling with physical issues during his match against Sinner in Wimbledon, especially with his movement during the match. The Serbian suffered a heavy fall in his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli, where he was slow to get back up and showed signs of discomfort.
Since then, his absence from the traditional hard-court warm-up events has only fueled the debate. While Toronto officials confirmed he withdrew because of injury, Cincinnati organisers said Djokovic’s decision was for “non-medical reasons,” leaving fans to wonder what shape he will be in once the Grand Slam action begins at the US Open.
Djokovic’s season has been marked by uncertainty
Of course, with Djokovic, appearances can be deceiving. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has built a career on resilience and comebacks, often finding a way to peak at the biggest tournaments despite limited preparation.
Djokovic had a busy start to the season, making deep runs at Indian Wells and Miami before struggling a bit on clay. Early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid pushed him to pull out of Rome, and since then he’s been keeping his schedule lighter. In the past month, instead of playing in Toronto and Cincinnati, the Serbian was caught on holiday in Croatia and then Greece.
Even though his results at Masters 1000 events haven’t been at his usual elite level this year, Djokovic has still been showing up when it matters most. He’s reached the semifinals at three of the four Grand Slams in 2025.