Novak Djokovic looks set to have an unideal build-up to the US Open after his latest decision on competing at the Cincinnati Open.
The Serbian, along with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, chose to skip the Canadian Open and are currently not competing at the Masters 1000 event in Toronto.
However, while Sinner and Alcaraz plan to play in Cincinnati, it has now been confirmed that Djokovic will not be competing.
Him not partaking at the upcoming event in The Queen City means he will miss a second successive Masters 1000 event and not play in Cincinnati for a second straight year.
Djokovic last played a match at Wimbledon a few weeks ago when he made a run to the semi-finals. His quest to add to his 24 Grand Slams at SW19 was ended by Sinner.
The current world no. 6 was slightly compromised during his loss to Sinner after he suffered a slip in his quarter-final win over Flavio Cobolli. The incident reportedly left him with a groin problem.
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The latest developments mean Djokovic will enter the year's final major tournament having played no competitive tennis since his Wimbledon exit.
This is not the best preparation for the 38-year-old considering all the top players in the men's game will have adjusted to the hard courts in the lead up to the US Open.
However, while staying active on the court is key for tennis players, Djokovic is in a unique situation.
His age coupled with the many minutes clocked on the court in his 22-year professional career mean he cannot compete at as many ATP Tour events as before. This is due to his body taking longer to recover and him being more prone to injuries.
Djokovic may argue the most crucial thing for him is having sufficient rest in the lead up to Grand Slam events. If missing Cincinnati is pivotal to ensuring full readiness for Flushing Meadows, then his latest decision may prove to be necessary.
Having not won a major since lifting the US Open two years ago, Djokovic is still striving to become the only player in the men's and women's game to win 25 major titles.
He will continue that quest to make history when the final Grand Slam of 2025 begins later this month.
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