What happened the last time Novak Djokovic skipped US Open build-up tournament?
Novak Djokovic, the gold-medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has skipped both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open this year. He did so to give his body some much-needed rest prior to the US Open, which gets underway on August 26.
Djokovic won the Cincinnati Open title last year, which means that he stands to lose 1000 ranking points by not defending it. It also means that his ranking will drop to No. 3 in the world after the tournament is over.
The 37-year-old Serb, who has won a record 24 Grand Slams including four US Open titles, also skipped both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open back in 2021 after having participated at the Tokyo Olympics.
How did Novak Djokovic fare at the 2021 US Open?
Novak Djokovic failed to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. It was pretty disappointing for him and he then decided to skip both the build-up tournaments before the US Open.
Djokovic had yet another major potential milestone waiting for him at the US Open that year. The Serb had won each of the three preceding Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon) that year and had to win the US Open title to emulate Rod Laver in winning the Calendar Year Grand Slam. No other man except Laver has achieved that feat in the Open Era.
Djokovic faced the 18-year-old Holger Rune of Denmark in the first round and won the match in four sets. He then disposed of Tallon Griekspoor and Kei Nishikori in the subsequent rounds to reach the Round of 16.
Novak Djokovic then defeated Jenson Brooksby of the United States in the fourth round and Matteo Berrettini of Italy in the quarterfinal. The Serb then faced Alexander Zverev in the semifinal and prevailed in a tough five-setter 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the final.
In the final, Djokovic met Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Medvedev had beaten Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets in the semifinal and had dropped only one set in the whole tournament prior to the final.
Djokovic was still the favorite for the final and only a match away from creating history by winning all four Majors in a calendar year. However, Medvedev beat the Serb 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the final to win his maiden Grand Slam and deprive him of a marvellous feat.
The legendary Novak Djokovic thus missed the opportunity of a lifetime to match Laver's feat. Thus, the 37-year-old will sincerely hope that history does not repeat itself this year.