Novak Djokovic  has claimed he is not going to be mulling over lacking final 12 months or Carlos Alcaraz when he makes his return to the US Open.

The Serbian famous person’s final match in New York led to tears and cheers from the gang in 2021 when he misplaced the ultimate - and his probability to finish a profession Grand Slam - to Daniil Medvedev.

His refusal to get a Covid-19 vaccine noticed him banned from getting into the USA final summer season.

But earlier than dealing with Frenchman Alexandre Muller within the first spherical on Monday, the world No.2 insisted: “There was no anger. It was last year during the Open that I felt it's a pity that I'm not there. I felt sad for not being able to participate.

“But this year is this year. I don't think about what happened in the last year or the last couple of years. Just focusing my attention on this year's tournament.”

Djokovic received the primary two Majors this 12 months earlier than shedding the Wimbledon ultimate to Alcaraz after which gained some revenge - and a psychological benefit coming right here - in an epic Cincinnati contest on Sunday.

The 36-year-old will now bid once more to win his twenty fourth Grand Slam singles title and equal the report set by Margaret Court.

“Grand Slams are the biggest goals that I have in my career at the moment,” he stated. “I don't know how many more Slams I'll have. I'll still keep going. I don't have an end in my mind at the moment. I also understand that things are different when you're 36, so I have to be more appreciative, a bit more I guess present, treating every Grand Slam as maybe your last one in terms of commitment and performance.

“I see this every Grand Slam that I play right now as really a golden opportunity to make more history. Of course, there's a big significance to that.

“I wouldn't say it adds a bit more, the fact I haven't played here for two years, it's just the feeling is pretty much the same. There's always these expectations, excitement, and ambition to win the title. That's pretty much the same this year.”

Alcaraz received his first Grand Slam title right here final 12 months to grow to be the youngest ever world No.1. His lead on the prime of the rankings was minimize to solely 20 factors after Djokovic received a three-set traditional within the ultimate in Cincinnati.

The prime two seeds are on collision course to conflict once more within the ultimate right here on September 10.

Djokovic, who received his third US Open title in 2018, stated: “I think it's also in a way disrespectful to your next opponent if you're already thinking about your finals matchup. Even though I've had tremendous success, maybe you could argue that I could already start thinking about later phases and stages in the tournament, but that kind of mindset never really resonated with me.

“But Carlos is No. 1 in the world. He's definitely one of the best players in the world the last couple years. Sure, there's always an eye that follows him from my team, from any other team.

"I know that the same goes for me probably. We follow each other.

"I'm sure his team watches my matches. My team watches his matches. It's no secret. But seriously working on a practice court on something that is related to Alcaraz, it only happens if I get to play him.”