Early exit for Djokovic and Cacic, bow out in Cincinnati Open doubles opener
ATPTuesday, 15 August 2023 at 20:56
Novak
Djokovic and Nikola Cacic had a less than stellar start to the tournament and
were ousted from the Cincinnati Open by Jamie Murray and Michael Venus by 6-4, 6-3
After
nearly a month off the courts following his loss in the Wimbledon final against
Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic stepped onto the courts for his first match at
the Cincinnati Open.
This time,
it wasn't in the singles draw, where he's set to debut on August 16th, but in
doubles alongside his compatriot Nikola Cacic, facing the specialist pair of
Jaime Murray and Michael Venus. While both Murray and Venus are Grand Slam
champions, they haven't previously teamed up as partners.
'Nole' will
once again have only Cincinnati as his preparation for the upcoming US Open,
which explains his effort to regain momentum after the break due to fatigue
that led him to skip the Canadian Open last week.
Djokovic's
partner, Cacic, is a doubles specialist who has played just two singles
matches, with one win and one loss. This isn't the first time the duo has
paired up, as they've played together on three previous occasions.
Their first
match as a pair was at the 2021 ATP Cup, resulting in a defeat against the
Germans Alexander Zverev and Jan Lennard Struff. Their other two appearances
together were at the 2022 Davis Cup, one against the German pair Tim Puetz and
Kevin Krawietz, and their sole victory against the Kazakh duo Andrey Golubev
and Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
Unfortunately
for the Serbian pair, they faced another loss, this time in just an hour and
ten minutes with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The Serbian duo struggled with their
first-serve percentage, landing at 45% and winning 70% of the points. In
contrast, Venus and Murray managed to secure a 64% first-serve percentage,
winning 88% of their points.
Djokovic
and Cacic were unable to trouble their opponents and failed to capitalize on
any of the three break points they had in their favor. Meanwhile, their
opponents were more efficient during crucial moments, managing to convert two
of their three break points.
Now,
Djokovic must await his debut in the singles main draw, where he will face the
winner between Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Tomas Etcheverry on Tuesday,
August 15th.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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