Novak Djokovic opts for unorthodox preparation in bid for historic Slam

Serbian star has opted to do what no other current player has tried in a bid to win the US Open and claim the Grand Slam.

After a torrid trip to Tokyo, Novak Djokovic has opted to freshen up heading into the US Open, where he will bid to complete the Grand Slam. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic will arrive in New York later this month in his bid to become the first man in 52 years to complete the Grand Slam off a preparation that is highly unorthodox for the US Open.

Not one winner at Flushing Meadows among active male players has managed to win the final grand slam of the year without playing in at least one of two Masters Series lead-in events.

It is a streak that dates back to the first of Roger Federer’s five successive US Open titles between 2004 and 2008.

The Serbian, whose bid to claim an Olympic gold ended in tainted fashion, has opted against playing either the Canadian Open or Cincinnati Masters this month to freshen up.

Desperate to claim the only major prize to elude him in an extraordinary career, Djokovic overextended himself in Japan and ended the Olympics physically and mentally fried.

After falling to Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreno Busta in the medal rounds, the Serbian’s campaign ended in controversy when he withdrew from a mixed doubles bronze medal match after a temper tantrum in his singles, gifting a place on the dais to Ash Barty and John Peers.

“I wanted to share with you that I’m taking a bit longer to recover after quite a physically taxing journey from (the) Australian Open up to Tokyo,” he said.

“Sadly, this means I won’t be ready to compete in Cincinnati this year, so I’ll be turning my focus to the US Open and spending more time with my family. Can’t wait to see you in New York soon.”

The 20-time major champion is listed as an odds-on favourite for the US Open, though his price will lengthen should key rivals produce strong performances in either Montreal or Ohio.

In an extraordinary 2015 season, Djokovic won both Masters Series events leading into his arrival in New York during a dominant hard court swing.

Prior to his first success in 2011, he won in Canada, while he claimed the 31st of the 36 titles at Masters level in Cincinnati in 2018 before another success at Flushing Meadows.

Such is Djokovic’s dominance at major level this season – which mirrors his mastery for the best part of a decade – the world No. 1 is clearly capable of using week one of a slam to find form.

Using this season as a case study, Djokovic has not faced a player ranked higher than 61 in his first two rounds of a major, hence avoiding any dangerous unseeded foes.

American Taylor Fritz, who was ranked 31 at the time when they met in the third round of the Australian Open, is the highest-ranked player Djokovic has faced in the first week this year.

But his decision tempts history. Should Djokovic claim the US Open for the fourth time, he will join Rod Laver and Don Budge as the only men to complete the Grand Slam.

A 21st grand slam victory would see the Belgrade baseliner move ahead of Federer and Rafael Nadal, who is priming himself for the challenge, on the all-time major list for the first time.

Djokovic is the only man to win every Masters series event at least twice, though curiously he will enter this US Open without a success at the highest level of the ATP Tour this year.

The conditions in New York, too, are not as favourable to the superstar as Melbourne Park, where the hard courts have traditionally been slower and higher bouncing.

Djokovic was disqualified last year after a ball he struck in anger during a clash against Busta hit a lineswoman in the throat.

I’ll miss you too @CincyTennis 💙 https://t.co/EtnvEdJG8b

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 9, 2021