Novak Djokovic makes surprising decision ahead of Carlos Alcaraz revenge mission at US Open
Novak Djokovic will play doubles at the Cincinnati Open as he prepares for US Open
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Novak Djokovic has signed up to play doubles at the Cincinnati Open as he looks to win the US Open this month.
The Serb recently withdrew from the National Bank Open in Toronto after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
Djokovic cited fatigue, revealing he needed more time to rest as he looks ahead to his return to Flushing Meadows.
But the former world No 1 has now opted to sign up for some extra tennis instead.
Novak Djokovic will want revenge on Carlos Alcaraz when US Open kicks off
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The 36-year-old, who has won three US Open titles in New York over the years, will play doubles with compatriot Niko Cacic.
The singles and doubles clashes in Cincinnati will be Djokovic's only competitive matches before the final major of the year.
He previously signed up for extra action ahead of his successful Australian Open campaign earlier in the year.
However, though he reigned supreme Down Under, Djokovic failed in the doubles while playing with Vasek Pospisil at the Adelaide Open - with the pair crashing out in the first round.
Djokovic is poised to make his first return to the United States since playing in the US Open in 2021.
He was unable to attend the tournament last year, having opted against taking the coronavirus vaccine.
But Djokovic will now go into this year's tournament hunting a Grand Slam title that would see him draw level with Margaret Court on 24 majors.
Revenge may also be on his mind, too.
Djokovic and Alcaraz are expected to be the second and top seeds for the competition, which kicks off on August 28.
And the Serb will no doubt be hoping to stop his young rival from continuing his remarkable development should they meet in the final.
Alcaraz is very much the man to beat right now.
He was impressive at the US Open last year, powering his way past Casper Ruud in the final to clinch a first Grand Slam of his career.
But the Spaniard took his game to a whole new level last month when he stunned Djokovic at Centre Court.
Former world No 5 Jimmy Arias, speaking recently, said Alcaraz was better than Djokovic - though admitted his comments were 'strange'.
Speaking on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast, he said: “Before the Wimbledon final, a couple people asked me and I said – and this maybe sounds crazy but – he (Alcaraz) at his best level is better than anybody else.
"He’s better than Djokovic, Djokovic can’t get to the level that Alcaraz [can],” said the American.
“This is the best level I’ve seen – him at his best. I didn’t know if he was gonna be able to bring it in a Wimbledon final against Djokovic, but I did also know that he’d be more relaxed than he was at the French [Open].
“The French was a strange situation for him because he’s playing a, at the time a 22-time Grand Slam champion, and he’s favourite, by a wide margin.
"And I thought that was a strange mental hurdle for him.
“In the Wimbledon final, it was the other way. Now Djokovic is favourite and I knew he (Alcaraz) would play relaxed, or I thought he would, but it’s a Wimbledon final.”
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Novak Djokovic has won the US Open three times in previous years
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He added: “It’s so strange for me to say that the greatest player of all time’s peak isn’t as good as this kid who is 20 years old.
"But you watch Alcaraz and I don’t know how he’s done it so quickly. He’s sort of taken the ‘Big Three’ and combined all their strengths and put them into himself."
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