After skipping the Masters 1000 in Canada, it was announced on Monday that Novak Djokovic will also miss the Cincinnati Masters, potentially arriving at the US Open without having played a single match during the American hard-court swing.
The Athletic confirmed the news via a tournament spokesperson. The Cincinnati main draw begins on August 7. This marks the second consecutive year that the Serbian star has chosen to skip the event.
Djokovic would head to New York for the final Grand Slam of the year without any match play since his semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon. While he hasn’t provided a reason for his withdrawal, the move appears consistent with his more measured scheduling throughout the 2025 season.
The 38-year-old had a demanding first half of the year, participating in both Indian Wells and the Miami Open, where he reached the final. He then played several clay-court events but suffered early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid, losing in the second round of both.
Those results led him to withdraw from Rome, and he has since adopted a more minimalist approach to his schedule. He also skipped warm-up tournaments before Wimbledon. Last year, Djokovic reached the third round of the US Open.
Djokovic has been on holiday with his family
In recent days, the Serbian veteran has been enjoying some downtime with family and friends, first in Croatia and later in Greece. He even shared a lighthearted moment on TikTok, posting a video of himself dancing to a popular Bruno Mars song.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appears to be in good spirits. While his performances at Masters 1000 events this season have fallen short of his usual standard, Djokovic has remained a consistent force at the Grand Slams, reaching the semifinals in three of the year’s four majors.