Novak Djokovic returns to competitive tennis this week at the Cincinnati Open, his first tournament since Wimbledon, and the 39 year old’s comeback has reignited the familiar question that has followed him for years: can he still do it? The three time champion, drawn in Alexander Zverev’s half, arrives in Ohio with a draw that offers both opportunity and early tests, and with the US Open looming, Cincinnati will tell us plenty about where his game stands.
The return
Djokovic has not played a competitive match since Wimbledon, where he reached the semi finals before falling to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The Serbian skipped the Canadian Open in Montreal, instead targeting Cincinnati as his return to the North American hard court swing and his build up to the US Open.
It is his first appearance in Cincinnati since 2023, when he produced one of the most dramatic victories of his career. Djokovic saved a championship point against Carlos Alcaraz before winning an epic final 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 after three hours and 49 minutes, the longest best of three final in ATP Tour history.
The memories of that night, and of his five lost finals before finally conquering the tournament in 2018, are clearly still fresh. Speaking ahead of this year’s event, Djokovic reflected on the journey. “I have great memories of this tournament, although it took me a while to win my first title here,” he said. “I was four or five finals prior to winning it for the first time against Roger.”
The draw
Djokovic is seeded third and has been placed in the same half as top seed Alexander Zverev. His opening match will be against Thiago Agustin Tirante or Jan Choinski, a relatively comfortable start, but the draw stiffens quickly.
The third round could bring a meeting with Jack Draper, who has received a wildcard, with the winner of that section emerging as Djokovic’s projected opponent. Beyond that, Alex de Minaur is seeded to meet Djokovic in the quarter finals, while Zverev would await in a potential semi final.
With Sinner and Alcaraz both absent, the draw is wide open, and Djokovic immediately becomes one of the obvious favourites despite having played little tennis in recent months. His 45-12 record in Cincinnati is a reminder of how comfortable he has historically been on these courts.
The longevity question
At 39, every tournament now carries questions about longevity, fitness and the relentless rise of the younger generation. Djokovic has faced these questions before, and he has answered them time and again with an almost stubborn refusal to fade.
His record suggests that writing him off is dangerous. The competitive fire that helped him overcome Federer, Murray and Alcaraz clearly still burns, and his ability to raise his level for the biggest moments remains unmatched in the sport’s history.
But the physical realities are undeniable. The body does not recover as quickly at 39, and the demands of the hard court season, with its punishing schedule, test even the fittest players. How Djokovic manages his body through Cincinnati and into the US Open will be one of the defining storylines of the American summer.
What Cincinnati tells us
Cincinnati is more than just another Masters 1000 stop for Djokovic. It is a tournament where his resilience has repeatedly been tested and rewarded, and this year it doubles as a crucial gauge of his form ahead of the US Open.
A deep run would confirm that Djokovic remains a genuine contender for the season’s final Grand Slam. An early exit would raise further questions about whether age is finally catching up with the 24 time Grand Slam champion.
The field, missing Sinner and Alcaraz, offers Djokovic a genuine opportunity to add a fourth Cincinnati title and reassert his presence at the top of the game. Zverev, Medvedev and the rest will have other ideas, but the path to the trophy is there for the taking.
The bigger picture
Djokovic’s return is also significant for the wider narrative of men’s tennis. The sport has been transitioning for years, with the old guard of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic gradually giving way to a new generation. Federer is retired, Nadal is gone, and Djokovic is now the last of the legendary trio still competing.
Every tournament he plays now carries a certain poignancy, a reminder of an era that is drawing to a close. Yet Djokovic’s continued competitiveness is also a testament to his greatness, a defiance of the natural order that has defined his entire career.
In Cincinnati this week, the old champion begins another campaign. The questions will follow him onto the court, as they always do. And, as he has done so many times before, Djokovic will attempt to answer them with his racket.