Novak Djokovic‘s journey from the crowded streets of Belgrade to the grand stages of world tennis is nothing short of extraordinary. His relentless drive, unwavering focus, and ability to push his limits have not only earned him numerous titles but also made him a beloved national hero in Serbia. Every victory, every hard-fought match, and every record broken has added to the legend of Djokovic, inspiring countless young athletes along the way. But with great success often comes tough choices, and it seems Djokovic is on the brink of making a disappointing announcement.

As per the rumors floating around in the Tennis corridors, Djokovic is highly unlikely to participate in one of the crucial events of the American hard court swing. He might take the decision in a couple of days owing to scheduling conflicts between the tournament and the celebration, which is due in his country. 

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), a user shared the news of Nole’s likely absence at the Cincinnati Open. “IF the rumor is true, due to “scheduling conflict,” we might NOT see @DjokerNole playing @CincyTennis but rather defending his 🏆 #USOpen.” Remember, Djokovic is the defending champion of the tournament, who beat Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 last year to clinch the title. And the reason for his absence is likely the celebration which is due in Serbia. 

“#CincyTennis starts August 11th in 🇺🇸 and it looks like a national celebration might take place in Belgrade 🇷🇸 on August 13th for No1e🥇.” The country has been honoring the tennis maestro time and again for clinching the Gold. They also announced a new museum dedicated to Djokovic to honor his achievements, which will be constructed soon. Besides, participating in back-to-back events would be equally a demanding task for the Serb that might cause fatigue.

The 37-year-old appeared in the French Open when he suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. Despite undergoing surgery, Nole did not fail to appear for the Wimbledon and reached the final. He also participated in the Paris Olympics, and despite the transitioning challenges, he ultimately clinched the shiny gold. The journey was not easy. Playing against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals, Djokovic was seen limping on the court, which gave a major scare to his fans. As the tennis legend looks forward to winning his 25th slam, getting adequate rest is important. 

At the same time, Djokovic wishes to focus more on defending his title at the US Open, which will begin on August 26. After his defeat in SW19, Nole revealed his desire for the upcoming tournaments. “Well, the Olympic Games and US Open are the two big goals for the rest of the year for me really,” Djokovic said. “I’m hoping I can be at my best [for] those two tournaments. That’s all I can say right now.” But as the Serbian Maestro gears up for the US Open, he will not see one of his fiercest rivals in the tournament.

Djokovic will not witness his fierce rival Rafael Nadal at the US Open

Djokovic and Nadal have engaged in some of the most enthralling games in their career, including the recently concluded Paris Olympics. As fans would have desired to witness them playing one more time, probably at the US Open, where they might have met by advancing to the later stages of the tournament, Rafa has made an unfortunate decision. 

Taking to his X on Wednesday, Nadal made the shocking decision. “Hi all, writing today to let you guys know that I have decided not to compete at this year’s US Open a place where I have amazing memories.” He revealed that he would not be “able to give my 100% this time,” and that it would not be fair for him to participate in the event. However, he announced that he would be present at the Laver Cup this year. 

As the tournament inches closer, it would be interesting to see if Djokovic can continue his winning momentum and secure his 25th Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.