Novak Djokovic’s path to a 25th Grand Slam title has been repeatedly obstructed by the rise of Jannik Sinner on the ATP Tour.

Since their meeting at the Australian Open in 2024, the Serbian has been eliminated by Sinner in the later rounds of four Grand Slams. Djokovic has managed only one Grand Slam win over the Italian in that span, and it came in remarkable fashion.

Earlier this year, Djokovic produced one of the standout performances of his career to defeat Sinner in five sets in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Djokovic has never hidden his admiration for Sinner, and he has again spoken about the similarities between their games as both players prepare for the US Open.

In an interview with Corriere Della Sera, Djokovic praised Sinner’s level and the way he has dominated the ATP Tour over the last two seasons.

“He has a constant and total dedication to tennis. I observe his and I completely identify with it: the desire to improve, grow, evolve in every aspect,” he said.

“Jannik, like me, is never satisfied. He has the mentality of a champion, he always had it. He’s a dominant force, yet he wakes up every morning with the desire to be better than the day before.

“And, believe me, no victory can satisfy that hunger, not even 24 Grand Slam titles. Tennis aside, it’s the aspect of his character that brings me closest to Sinner.”

Sinner’s Wimbledon triumph earlier this summer was his fifth Grand Slam title, and he reached that mark at the age of 24. Djokovic had also collected five majors by that stage in his own career.

That parallel leaves open the possibility of Sinner eventually challenging Djokovic’s record, although Djokovic did not begin to separate himself in the same way until after turning 25, when he won three Grand Slams in a season three times.

For now, Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner’s health concerns remain the main variables in that picture. Much can change over the next 10 to 15 years, and Djokovic’s longevity remains one of the sport’s defining traits.

Their next possible meeting could arrive at the US Open.

As the ATP and WTA Tours continue their North American hardcourt buildup, attention is shifting toward the season’s final Grand Slam at the US Open. The Cincinnati Open is in progress, and many of the leading names in both draws are trying to find the right level before Flushing Meadows.

Even so, the entry lists are already taking shape without several notable players. Nine players have withdrawn from the tournament so far, with eight of those absences coming from the WTA Tour.

Emma Raducanu, Hailey Baptiste and Victoria Mboko are among the most prominent players not set to appear in New York. Mboko and Baptiste both dealt with serious knee injuries earlier in the year, so their absence was expected. Raducanu, however, has also been ruled out through injury. Her stress fracture, which sidelined her at Wimbledon, is serious enough to keep her out of the entire North American hardcourt swing.

She is joined on the list by Ajla Tomljanovic, Varvara Gracheva, Irina-Camelia Begu, Jacqueline Cristian and Laura Siegemund.

WTA Tour star’s who have withdrawn from the US Open

Victoria Mboko (world No 12) > replaced by Mananchaya Sawangkaew

Hailey Baptiste (world No 32) > replaced by Kaitlin Quevedo

Emma Raducanu (world No 49) > replaced by Anna Blinkova

Ajla Tomljanovic (world No 95) > replaced by Ella Seidel

Varvara Gracheva (world No 102) > replaced by Anastasia Zakharova

Irina-Camelia Begu (world No 472) > replaced by Elsa Jacquemot

Jaqueline Cristian (world No 41) > replaced by Darja Vidmanova

Laura Siegemund (world No 89) > replaced by Nadia Podoroska

On the ATP side, only Sebastian Korda has officially withdrawn. The American has not played since the Miami Open and confirmed at the start of August that he had undergone back surgery.

“It’s been 4 months off-court managing pain in my back with a lot of pressure on my sciatica. After different treatments we decided to have a swift surgery that has finally relieved the pain. What a relief,” said Korda in a social media post.

“Massive thank you to Dr. Qureshi and his team. Now it is time to recover, heal and get back to work. Thanks everyone for the support. See ya’ll soon!”

ATP Tour star’s who have withdrawn from the US Open

Sebastian Korda (world No 50) > replaced by Aleksandar Vukic

Korda is the only confirmed men’s withdrawal for now, but uncertainty remains around several others. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are still considered doubts, with Alcaraz racing to recover from a wrist injury that has kept him out for five months. Sinner is managing a knee injury and has not played any North American events leading into the Slam.

Holger Rune could also miss the event as he works his way back from an ACL injury suffered at the Stockholm Open in October last year. He has not withdrawn, though. “I see conclusions on me withdrawing from US Open,” he wrote recently on social media. “I did not withdraw. I am working super hard everyday and as soon as I am ready, I am ready. I hope it will be US Open.”

Rune and Alcaraz have been training together in Murcia ahead of the tournament, leaving open the possibility that both could still compete.

The Cincinnati Open has spent its opening days battling the elements as rain interrupted qualifying and extreme heat has defined the main draw. Conditions in Ohio have been punishing, with several players forced to cope with temperatures above 30 degrees Celcius and heavy humidity on Sunday, 16th August.

Novak Djokovic was one of the players visibly affected, as he went out in the second round against Thiago Agusting Tirante and was seen vomiting into his towel during the match. The broader field has also had to manage the strain of the weather, which has made the tournament especially demanding.

After beating Marco Trungelliti in a tight straight-sets match, Medvedev described just how severe the conditions felt. “I’m happy to have avoided a third set, it’s very hot. I even think, according to the forecasts, that it’s the hottest day. I saw that he (Trungelliti) was also struggling, that’s maybe why he couldn’t close out the second set. It’s hard for everyone,” said Medvedev.

He added: “From the start of the match, when the second set arrives, everyone is out of breath, sweating, the conditions are tough. I’m happy to have been able to win in two sets. Tomorrow is a rest day, I will recover.”

The weather has also brought renewed focus on Jannik Sinner’s decision to skip the event. Even without the knee issue he is dealing with, the choice looks increasingly measured given his history in heat and humidity. Sinner has withdrawn from both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, meaning he will arrive at the US Open without a hardcourt warm-up in North America.

That is notable because he has previously struggled in similar conditions, including Shanghai against Tallon Griekspoor, Melbourne against Eliot Spizzirri, and Roland Garros against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. On that evidence, skipping Cincinnati appears to be a sensible call before the US Open.