(Provided by Tennis World USA)
A 23-time Major winner Novak Djokovic needs more time off the court following his demanding Roland Garros and Wimbledon journeys! Novak has withdrawn from the upcoming Canada Masters in Toronto, citing fatigue as the main reason and not returning to Canada five years after competing there for the last time.
Djokovic is enjoying his holidays with his family in Croatia, charging batteries ahead of Cincinnati and the US Open, his next steps in the calendar. The Serb claimed four Canada Masters titles between 2007 and 2016, two in Montreal and Toronto.
Novak ended his last Canada Masters campaign in the third round in 2018, falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas and not returning to this event for half a decade. Djokovic is 33-5 this season, winning three ATP titles, including Major crowns at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Novak wrote history books in Paris, becoming the first player with 23 Major titles on his tally and leaving Rafael Nadal on 22.Djokovic was the top favorite at Wimbledon, embracing an incredible streak at The All England Club since 2018 and reaching another final.
The Serb met Carlos Alcaraz in the title clash and experienced a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 loss in four hours and 42 minutes. Both players grabbed five breaks, and the young gun succeeded in the pivotal moments to lift his second Major title at 20!
Novak made a perfect start, securing the opener in 34 minutes and creating a set point in the second set’s tie break that could have sent him miles in front. However, his backhand let him down, and Carlos stole the breaker 8-6 to level the overall score after two hours.
Carlos stormed over Novak in the third set, stealing his serve three times, the same number of breaks Novak experienced in six matches before the final! The fifth game saw 13 deuces and 32 points, lasting 27 minutes and taking a lot of energy out of Djokovic, who served.
Novak Djokovic will not play in Toronto in a couple of weeks.
Carlos seized the seventh break point when Novak netted a forehand to earn an enormous boost and steal the veteran’s power.
The Spaniard closed the set with another break at 5-1 for a massive advantage ahead of set number four. Novak defended two break points in the second game to end his downfall. The Serb raised his level on the return to grab breaks in games five and nine and wrap up the set 6-3.
They missed a break point in games one and two of the final set, with Djokovic netting a drive-volley in the second game that would cost him dearly. Carlos delivered a break in game three with a backhand down the line winner and moved closer to the finish line.
Alcaraz served for the title at 5-4 and held at 30 after forcing Djokovic’s error to lift his second Major trophy.”I have always enjoyed my time in Canada, but after speaking with my team, we believe this is the right decision to take.
I would like to thank Karl Hale, the Tournament Director, for understanding this decision. I really hope I can return to Canada and Toronto in the coming years to play in front of great fans there,” Novak Djokovic said.
