Novak Djokovic will return to the ATP Tour in early October. This will be the Serbian’s first appearance since his elimination in the semifinals of the US Open.
Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic will return to the ATP Tour in early October. The record Grand Slam winner will compete in the Masters in Shanghai (October 1-12), organizers confirmed on Tuesday. The Serbian last played an official match in the semifinals against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in early September at the US Open in New York. World number one Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (Italy) as well as top German player Alexander Zverev are also expected to compete in Shanghai. Djokovic, who had been vague about his plans for the end of the season after his exit in New York, won the tournament in the Chinese metropolis in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
Djokovic focuses on Grand Slams
Given his advanced age as an athlete and his clear focus on the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, Djokovic is now pacing himself. The only tournament he will “definitely” play is the ATP 250 event in Athens in early November, the 38-year-old said recently.
The tournament is organized by his family and was held in Djokovic’s hometown of Belgrade for many years. It remains to be seen whether he will participate in the Masters in Paris (October 27 to November 2) or the ATP Finals in Turin (November 9 to 16).