Novak Djokovic returned to the United States for the first time in two years on Wednesday, and he wasted little time in winning his first match at the Cincinnati Open. The 23-time Grand Slam champion defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-4, 1-0 (retired) in the second round.
Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, was unable to play in the US Open last year or the Indian Wells and Miami Masters tournaments earlier this year due to vaccination requirements. He was also unable to defend his title at the Western & Southern Open in 2021.
But the Serbian star is now back in the US and looking to win his first title on American soil since 2020. He will next face Frenchman Gaël Monfils in the third round of the Cincinnati Open.
Djokovic was in control of his match against Davidovich Fokina from the start. He broke the Spaniard’s serve in the third game of the first set and never looked back. Djokovic won the set 6-4 and was leading 1-0 in the second set when Davidovich Fokina retired due to a back injury.
Djokovic was pleased to be back in the US and playing in front of his fans. “It’s great to be back,” he said. “I missed playing here. I missed the fans. I missed the atmosphere.”
Djokovic is the top seed at the Cincinnati Open and is the favorite to win the title. He will be looking to use this tournament as a warm-up for the US Open, which begins on August 29.
The US Open is the last Grand Slam tournament of the year and Djokovic will be looking to win his 24th Grand Slam title. He is currently tied with Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles in history.
Djokovic will face a tough challenge at the US Open, but he is the defending champion and will be the favorite to win. He has been playing well in recent months and is in good form. If he can stay healthy, he will be a tough opponent for anyone.
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