Djokovic's surprise move before Grand Slam bid

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from his past planned US Open lead-up event, the Cincinnati Masters.

Djokovic won the lawsuit past twelvemonth earlier an explosive US Open exit successful which helium was defaulted for striking a lineswoman successful the pharynx with a ball.

This year, helium volition caput to the US Open without a tune-up lawsuit nether his belt. He had already withdrawn from the Toronto Masters.

This year, Djokovic tin implicit the archetypal calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver successful 1969 if helium wins the US Open. His hopes of winning the first-ever men's Golden Slam ended erstwhile helium mislaid successful the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics.

Djokovic said that helium needed much betterment clip aft a gruelling 2021 schedule, which has seen him triumph the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Novak Djokovic aft hitting a lineswoman astatine the US Open, which got him kicked retired of the Grand Slam. (AP)

"I wanted to stock with you that I'm taking a spot longer to retrieve aft rather a physically taxing travel from Australian Open up to Tokyo," Djokovic posted connected his societal media accounts.

"Sadly, this means I won't beryllium acceptable to vie successful Cincinnati this year, truthful I'll beryllium turning my absorption to the US Open and spending much clip with my family. Can't hold to spot you successful New York soon!"

Djokovic near the Olympics empty-handed aft losing to Alexander Zverev successful his semi-final and Pablo Carreno Busta successful his bronze medal match.

The Serbian megastar besides sparked contention by withdrawing from a bronze medal mixed doubles lucifer against Australia's Ash Barty and John Peers, claiming wounded and leaving spouse Nina Stojanovic successful the lurch.

Djokovic tin rewrite tennis past if helium wins the US Open. He volition go the outright person successful the Grand Slam titles race, breaking a necktie connected 20 with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and go lone the 3rd antheral to triumph a calendar Slam, aft Laver (twice) and Don Budge.

While Djokovic volition beryllium a raging favourite to triumph astatine Flushing Meadows, his past of 3 titles determination came successful 2018; which was preceded by triumph astatine the Cincinnati Masters. The US Open is his second-least prolific major, pursuing the French Open (two titles).

Djokovic's withdrawal from Cincinnati besides casts immoderate uncertainty connected his condition, physically and mentally. He cited a enarthrosis wounded erstwhile helium withdrew from his Olympic mixed doubles medal match.

Yet the satellite No.1 has demonstrated an unthinkable quality to play with niggles successful the backmost fractional of his career. He won this year's Australian Open, his ninth rubric successful Melbourne, portion nursing a achy abdominal strain.

Novak Djokovic celebrates a triumph against Hugo Dellien astatine the Olympics. (Getty)

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!