Novak Djokovic confirms Cincinnati Masters 1000 participation next month - 'I really look forward to coming back'
Published 30/07/2026 at 14:49 GMT+1
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Men's world No. 5 Novak Djokovic has announced that he'll be participating in the Cincinnati Masters 1000, which gets underway next month. Djokovic will play the tournament for the first time in three years.
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His last appearance there came in defeating Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 7-6 7-6 in the 2023 final at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
"Hello everyone. I am very happy to announce that I will be in Cincinnati this year, for the first time since 2023," Djokovic said in a video post on the official Cincinnatti Open X account.
"That year I played one of the top three Masters 1000 finals of my career.
"I really look forward to coming back, playing in front of you again, and seeing all the fans from around the world. See you soon!"
The tournament will mark the 39-year-old's first action since Wimbledon, having again withdrawn from the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Djokovic joins a star-studded line-up for the final tune up ahead of the US Open at the end of August.
Carlos Alcaraz is expected to feature for the first time since suffering a wrist injury in Barcelona earlier this year.
Jannik Sinner will also compete for the first time since his Wimbledon triumph earlier this month, having, like Djokovic, pulled out of the Canadian Open.
Additionally, Alexander Zverev, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff will also participate in Ohio.
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"We are excited to welcome the world’s best players back to the Cincinnati Open next month," Tournament Director Bob Moran told the official Cincinnati Open website recently.
"To have the available top 75 men and women sign up to compete for this highly coveted title speaks volumes about the importance of this event on the respective calendars.
"We set an incredibly high bar in 2025 with the extensive and expansive changes made to the player facilities, so it’s extremely satisfying to see the amazing strength of this field come to life."
Prelude to the US Open
The Cincinnati Open is the final hard-court warm-up for the US Open in New York, which gets underway next month.
The main draw starts at the end of August and runs through until mid-September.
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And defending 2025 champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka will hope to defend their respective men's and women's singles titles at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, has partnered with Djokovic for the US Open mixed doubles, while Jack Draper will play alongside Jessica Pegula.
Swiatek and Norwegian Casper Ruud is another standout pairing for the two-day event.
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