Good vibes powering Djokovic return to Cincinnati
Novak Djokovic brings a boatload of good memories into this edition of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters, an event he has won three times.With the resting Sinner and the wrist-injured Alcaraz missing from this edition, Djokovic's chances of a possible fourth Cincinnati trophy are at least decent.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic is bringing a wave of fond memories to his return to Cincinnati, where he has three tournament victories under his belt. The 38-year-old Serb is using this ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters as his sole warm-up for the upcoming US Open, beginning on August 30. Djokovic made his return to the court for the first time since his Wimbledon semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner on Thursday.
Interestingly, Djokovic had played his maiden Masters 1000 main draw at Cincinnati in 2005, at the tender age of a teenager. He went on to snatch the Cincinnati title in 2018, 2020, and 2023, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling three-set match to clinch his third crown. Djokovic once confessed that winning his first title in Cincinnati was a herculean task for him. However, that victory brought him immense relief, and he now approaches the event with a sense of confidence.
His latest triumph over Alcaraz, a grueling best-of-three match that lasted for a tournament-record three hours and 49 minutes, remains one of the most epic encounters in Djokovic's career. With Sinner, who was resting, and Alcaraz, who was sidelined due to a wrist injury, absent from this edition, Djokovic's prospects of clinching his fourth Cincinnati title look promising.
As he nears the end of his illustrious career, Djokovic's schedule has become rather selective. Currently, he stands with a win-loss record of 14-5 this season and is still on the lookout for his maiden title of 2026.
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