Good vibes powering Djokovic return to Cincinnati

Cincinnati: Novak Djokovic brings a wealth of good memories to this edition of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters, an event he has claimed three titles in. The 38-year-old Serbian is utilizing the tournament as his sole official warm-up ahead of the August 30 commencement of the US Open, making his debut on the court since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat against Jannik Sinner.

On Thursday, Djokovic was taken aback by a previously unknown detail: he had played his maiden Masters 1000 main draw here in 2005, ultimately securing Cincinnati championships in 2018, 2020, and 2023. Reflecting on his journey, Djokovic shared that winning his inaugural title at the event was a monumental relief, as it had been a challenging feat to achieve.

The match against Carlos Alcaraz, his most recent triumph, concluded in a tournament-record three hours and 49 minutes, with Djokovic describing it as one of the most epic best-of-three matches he has ever participated in. With Sinner sidelined and Alcaraz nursing a wrist injury, Djokovic's prospects of clinching a fourth Cincinnati crown appear promising.

As his career nears its inevitable conclusion, Djokovic's training regimen has been streamlined. Currently, he boasts a 14-5 record this season and remains in pursuit of his maiden title of 2026.