Djokovic returns to US after two years away, and is already training in Cincinnati
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Novak Djokovic has landed in the United States, as the Serbian tennis star has returned to the country almost two years after playing his last match on American soil. That was the 2021 US Open final, which he lost to Daniil Medvedev.
His refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, something that US authorities made mandatory in November 2021 and maintained until March of this year, kept him away from all tournaments on US soil, including the fourth Grand Slam of the year.
However, he’ll now be able to play after the rules for those entering the country were changed.
Djokovic, who will play in Cincinnati next week in preparation for the US Open, is already training on the courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center, where he was greeted by dozens of fans.
The Serb, who has twice won the tournament and will play in it for the first time since 2019, will first play in the doubles draw, along with his compatriot Nikola Cacic. They are set to take on Britain’s Jamie Murray and New Zealand’s Michael Venus.
Afterwards, he will play in the singles, with his opening match slated to be against one of Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich or Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry.
The Serbian’s goal is to get into a rhythm, since his last match was the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic wants to retake world number one
In addition, Djokovic will look to regain the number one ranking, now held by the Spaniard.
He is aided by the fact that he is not defending points given he hasn’t played any American tournament since 2021.
After Alcaraz‘s defeat in Toronto, the Spaniard’s defence of the number one spot no longer just depends on his performance.
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