Novak Djokovic’s return to the United States has not started on a high note. In his first match since 2021, the Serbian star, along with his partner Nikola Cacic, suffered a defeat in the doubles match at the Western & Southern Open. They lost 6-4, 6-2 to Jamie Murray and Michael Venus. This disappointing loss comes after Djokovic missed several events due to COVID-19 vaccine restrictions, making this his first competitive match in the country since the pandemic disrupted the tennis calendar.
Djokovic’s last competitive match before this was the Wimbledon final, where he fell to top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz. The loss against Alcaraz broke Djokovic’s hopes of achieving a Calendar Grand Slam, as he had already won the Australian Open, French Open, and was aiming for his third consecutive Wimbledon title. The defeat in the doubles match further adds to Djokovic’s recent struggles on the court.
Despite the disappointing start in doubles, Djokovic is determined to bounce back as he prepares for the singles tournament. The Serbian tennis sensation is set to open his singles campaign on Wednesday night against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Djokovic, with a record-breaking 23 Grand Slam singles titles to his name, will be eager to showcase his skills and make a strong comeback after the setback at Wimbledon.
While Djokovic is looking to make his mark in the singles tournament, Carlos Alcaraz, the defending US Open champion, had his eyes set on reaching 50 wins this season. Alcaraz faced Australian qualifier Jordan Thompson in a late match, and a win would have made him the first ATP player to achieve this milestone. The young Spaniard has been impressive throughout the year and has captured the attention of tennis fans worldwide with his incredible skills and determination.
In the women’s competition, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens had a remarkable victory in the third round. It was the first time since 2019 that Stephens advanced to this stage of the tournament. Stephens, who emerged victorious in New York in 2017, defeated the sixth-seeded defending champion Caroline Garcia 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. This win improves her previous record against top-10 players, as she now stands at 2-8 in her last 10 matches.
Another notable performance in the women’s tournament came from fifth-seeded Ons Jabeur. Jabeur, who reached the Wimbledon final but narrowly missed out on the title, showcased her resilience by overcoming a 5-1 deficit in the third set against Anhelina Kalinina. Jabeur eventually secured a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2). This remarkable comeback win demonstrates Jabeur’s fighting spirit and ability to thrive under pressure.
With Djokovic’s return, Alcaraz’s pursuit of milestones, Stephens’ resurgence, and Jabeur’s impressive comeback, the Western & Southern Open promises to provide fans with captivating matches and unexpected twists. As the tournament progresses, tennis enthusiasts around the world eagerly await to see which players will shine and etch their names in the tournament’s history.
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