"That is the only thing that worries me" - Jimmy Connors voices concern over Novak Djokovic's title chances at the US Open

Friday, 08 August 2025 at 06:30

With the 2025 US Open only a few weeks away, former World No.1 Novak Djokovic was backed to win the title by tennis great Jimmy Connors. However, the retired ATP star has expressed sone new concerns as the final Grand Slam of the season draws closer.

Djokovic has been in great from at Grand Slams this season, reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Despite not being able to lift the title, the 38-year old has shown he still has what it takes to compete with his younger colleagues.

However, there was some concern over Djokovic's fitness after the Serbian announced his withdrawal from both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open. These two ATP Masters 1000 events occur soon after Wimbledon, and are often used by players to gauge their preparation for the US Open.

With Djokovic hoping to win a 25th Grand Slam singles title before he retires, the former World No.1 will undoubtedly compete at the New York major. However, Connors, who initially stated Djokovic would capture the crown at Flushing Meadows, has slowly began to have a change of heart.

Playing a few practice matches would be beneficial, says Connors

In the latest episode of his Advantage Connors podcast, the eight-time Grand Slam singles titlist admitted Djokovic's withdrawal from both Toronto and Cincinnati was a bit concerning.

"You can’t count him out," began the retired American pro. "The only thing that is worrying me, is I wish he would go to Cincinnati and just go and play two or three matches.
“That is the only thing that worries me that he left Wimbledon in the semis, which was a pretty good result, but he didn’t play in that match like he wanted to and lost in three straight. Then to take two and a half months off, he has a family, going on vacation and getting away. But you never know!"

Djokovic's last Grand Slam triumph came at the 2023 US Open, but the Serbian has been unable to get past young rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in recent Grand Slam events. The main draw of the singles tournament at the US Open will begin on Sunday, August 24.

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Arthur Ajayi

Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

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