Novak Djokovic continues to defy age ahead of Cincinnati Open return: "It was the best that my body felt after any Grand Slam in the last two years"

Some really positive statements from Novak Djokovic has proved that he is still very much capable of competing at the highest level despite being 39-years-old. He is set to return to the action at the Cincinnati Open as he continues to prepare for the US Open.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has consistently managed his schedule much more carefully in recent times. Picking and choosing the tournaments he competes in, Djokovic has prioritised the major events with an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title the overall target.

That is the reason he is competing in Cincinnati, desperate get some match sharpness in a return to hardcourt. Tennis fans, and especially Djokovic, have become accustomed with him not playing any tennis ahead of Grand Slam events. This time last year, he did not compete in any competitions between Wimbledon and the US Open, reaching the semi-finals in both with the top two of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz the only players to halt him in his tracks.

Those two are not competing in Ohio, making him one of the favourites for the title. The Serbian has not lost a match in this tournament since 2019 in the semi-finals. His last two appearances in 2020 and 2023 ended in him lifting the title.

One of the classic Masters 1000 finals came in that 2023 title triumph against Alcaraz as Djokovic edged a thriller 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4). He saved a championship point enroute to that magnificent win and would later back it up with his most recent Grand Slam title run at the US Open.

Speaking to Tennis TV, he had fond memories of that match. "One of the top, I'd say, top three finals that I've played, best of three sets, you know, in Masters events, no doubt," he said. "Just incredible, thrilling, exciting, roller coaster, like the park next door type of ride of a match. I think it went almost four hours. Played in the sun, we played with the shades, we ended up almost in the evening hours. It was really anybody's game."

Both players showed real class on court as the match went the distance, but Djokovic had the tools and experience to get over the line. "I had match points and then, you know, came back and tight break, really nerve-wracking for both of us and we gave it all. So that was the last time I played in this tournament three years ago when I won the title. So exciting to be back."

It is no secret that the four Grand Slam events are Djokovic's main aims as he looks to surpass Margaret Court's 24 Grand Slam titles to step into uncharted waters into a league of his own. Any preparation for the US Open, his final chance in 2026, is key.

However, not all of that is down to him. With his age, he needs to be so careful with recovery prioritised. The good news from the Djokovic camp is that his body reacted well to that Wimbledon semi-final run, making his decision to compete in the Cincinnati Open a whole lot easier.

"Well, I honestly wanted to have at least one tournament coming into the US Open, having played since Wimbledon," he explained. "And my body reacted quite well after Wimbledon. It was the best that my body felt after any Grand Slam in the last two years, to be honest."

This buckled a prior trend. "Any other Grand Slam I played in the last two years, there was some kind of injury with different severity that took more time for me to address and then come back competing. So this time I was healthy and I really wanted to play. I kind of missed it and here I am."

Djokovic is the third seed in the tournament, and in the same side of the draw as Alexander Zverev, the two favourites for the title. He will face Thiago Agustin Tirante in the second round in his return to Cincinnati.