Novak Djokovic was left shocked by the extent of help he acquired when stepping onto a US courtroom for the primary time in three years. The Serb is seeking to ramp up his preparations for this month's US Open by competing within the Cincinnati Open over the approaching days and practiced on the occasion on Saturday.

Djokovic has not competed within the US in recent times as a consequence of his vaccination standing earlier than the nation's entry restrictions have been lifted earlier this 12 months. He was greeted by scores of followers at his apply session in Cincinnati, leaving him and his coach Goran Ivanisevic equally awestruck as they entered the courtroom.

"t was amazing, to be honest," mentioned Djokovic in an ATP Tour interview. "I made a joke with my coach, and I asked him whether we are [at] the right court because we thought it [was] a match. He actually said he thought it was a match happening because it [was] a match court."

"It's really amazing. I'm very grateful for the presence of so many people at a practice session, which is amazing. Again, I did experience some tournaments throughout the world, similar atmospheres in terms of the great attendance on the practice courts.

"People have been actually into it. As I discussed earlier than, a number of younger followers, which is all the time one thing I want to see. That provides me much more inspiration to play my greatest tennis within the event."

Djokovic will begin his Cincinnati Open campaign on Wednesday against either Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Tomas Martin Etcheverry. He received a bye into the round of 32 as the second seed and will be looking to fine-tune his US Open preparations by claiming the top prize.

The 36-year-old marked his return to US soil by showing off his dance moves last week in a short video posted on Instagram. Djokovic, sporting a new bearded look, seemed to be in good spirits after a tiring practice session and will be hoping to carry his positive attitude onto the court on Wednesday.

He will be desperate to put in a strong showing in Cincinnati ahead of the US Open, where he will be hoping to oust defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final earlier this year and it remains to be seen whether the Serb will be able to exact revenge if they meet again at Flushing Meadows.

Follow our Express Sport page on Instagram here.