Novak Djokovic has offered an encouraging update about his fitness ahead of his return to competitive tennis at the in the US, saying he feels healthier after than he has following any Grand Slam tournament over the past two years.
The 39-year-old Serbian will begin his Cincinnati campaign against Thiago Agustin Tirante on Saturday, August 14, using the tournament as his final competitive outing before this year’s US Open.
Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semifinals last month, where his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title ended with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Despite falling short at the All England Club, the former World No. 1 said his physical condition after the tournament gave him confidence.
“I haven’t played since Wimbledon, and my body reacted quite well after Wimbledon. It was the best that my body felt after any Grand Slam in the last two years, to be honest,” Djokovic said ahead of his Cincinnati opener.
The Serbian revealed that injuries had been a recurring concern after his Grand Slam appearances in recent years. This time, however, he was able to come through Wimbledon without a major physical setback.
“Any other Grand Slam I played in the last two years there was some kind of injury with different severity,” he said. “So this time I was healthy, and I really wanted to play. I kind of missed it, and here I am.”
Djokovic had been keen to get at least one tournament under his belt before turning his attention to the US Open. With the final Grand Slam of the season beginning on August 23 and running until the final on September 13, Cincinnati gives him an opportunity to regain match sharpness and assess his level before returning to Flushing Meadows.
“Well, I honestly wanted to have at least one tournament coming into the US Open,” Djokovic said.
The Cincinnati Open also carries some personal significance for Djokovic. His participation marks a return to a tournament he won for the first time in 2018.
Focus on winning one more Grand Slam
The 2026 US Open will be another opportunity for Djokovic to add to his 24 Grand Slam titles. His most recent major triumph came at the 2023 US Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Since then, Djokovic has reached two more Grand Slam finals but has fallen short on both occasions. He lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon 2024 final before suffering another final defeat to the Spaniard at the 2026 Australian Open.
For now, Djokovic’s immediate focus is Cincinnati, where his opening-round clash with Tirante will provide his first competitive test since Wimbledon. With his fitness apparently in a better place, the tournament could offer an important early indication of his readiness for another US Open campaign.