Novak Djokovic picks new doubles accomplice as Serb returns to motion in USA

Novak Djokovic will group up with fellow Serb Nikola Cacic as he returns to doubles motion on the Cincinnati Open in Ohio. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will solely play simply the one match earlier than his subsequent Grand Slam, the US Open, on the finish of August.

Djokovic has not been on courtroom since shedding an exhilarating five-set Wimbledon remaining to Carlos Alcaraz final month. But he has confirmed he’ll make up a stacked subject in Cincinnati from August 14 to August 20.

All of the world’s prime 10 have been entered into the Masters 1000 and Djokovic won’t solely play singles however doubles too. It has been confirmed he and Cacic will type an all-Serbian partnership.

Cacic, 32, was a member of the Serbia group that gained the ATP Cup three years in the past. He is a double common and has gained three titles with an 84-83 profession win-loss file. The doubles world No 57 is at the moment 14-12 for the present calendar yr.

The pair have performed collectively earlier than however solely in worldwide occasions. They misplaced to German pair Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff within the Davis Cup in February 2021. They additionally suffered defeat within the Davis Cup to Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in December the identical yr.

Djokovic and Cacic did get the higher of Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov days later although. But they haven’t teamed up since. Since that December loss, Djokovic has solely performed one other three doubles matches In whole – with Filip Krajinovic on the 2021 Davis Cup, with Matteo Berrettini on the 2022 Laver Cup for Roger Federer’s farewell and with Vasek Pospisil on the Adelaide International this yr.

Djokovic is a two-time Cincy champion having additionally misplaced an additional 5 finals, three to Roger Federer and two to Andy Murray. With the US Open the week after, he’ll hope for a robust run in each the singles and doubles.

The world No 2 additionally had the Canadian Open in Toronto on his pre-US Open schedule however withdrew attributable to fatigue. He defined: “I have always enjoyed my time in Canada but after speaking with my team we believe this is the right decision to take.”

Djokovic has not gained in New York since 2018. The three-time winner and nine-time finalist was unable to take part final yr attributable to not being vaccinated in opposition to Covid. Those restrictions have since been relaxed, so he’s free to compete this yr regardless of nonetheless not having any jabs.

One extra Grand Slam would see him stage Margaret Court’s file for essentially the most Majors of all time on 24. Alcaraz is the reigning champion at Flushing Meadows and the 20-year-old Spaniard will hope to underline his rising repute as the brand new man to beat with extra US Open glory.

Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic mentioned of Alcaraz: “It will be a big fight again. It is good that at Wimbledon, but also before in Paris, a rivalry was created between two players who are 16 years apart. Each of their next matches will be even better, crazier and more watched.”