{"id":2075427,"date":"2026-08-03T17:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T14:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2075427"},"modified":"2026-08-03T17:00:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T14:00:56","slug":"us-open-finalist-reveals-excellent-sign-for-novak-djokovic-ahead-of-serbs-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2075427","title":{"rendered":"US Open finalist reveals &#8216;excellent sign&#8217; for Novak Djokovic ahead of Serb&#8217;s return"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">US Open finalist reveals \u2018excellent sign\u2019 for Novak Djokovic ahead of Serb\u2019s return<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"03 Aug 2026 6:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"03 Aug 2026 6:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1785776456\"><br \/>\n                            03 Aug 2026 6:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/novak-djokovic-excellent-sign-us-open-greg-rusedski\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fnovak-djokovic-excellent-sign-us-open-greg-rusedski\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a 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                <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"US Open finalist reveals \u2018excellent sign\u2019 for Novak Djokovic ahead of Serb\u2019s return\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/A-relaxed-Novak-Djokovic-at-training-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: A relaxed Novak Djokovic at training\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                A relaxed Novak Djokovic at training                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski thinks it is an \u201cexcellent sign\u201d that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Novak Djokovic<\/a> will play in Cincinnati ahead of the 2026 US Open.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> confirmed last week that he will feature at the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, which will run from 13 to 23 August.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am very happy to announce that I will be in Cincinnati this year, for the first time since 2023,\u201d Djokovic said in a video shared by the Cincinnati Open.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat year I played one of the top three Masters 1000 finals of my career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really look forward to coming back, playing in front of you again, and seeing all the fans from around the world. See you soon!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in an epic three-set final to win the 2023 Cincinnati Masters. The Serbian then went on to win the 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/us-open\">US Open<\/a> \u2014 his 24th and most recent Grand Slam title.<\/p>\n<p>The 39-year-old has not played since losing to world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month.<\/p>\n<h2>More ATP Tour News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/federer-and-nadals-example-explains-sinner-djokovic-canada-withdrawals-amid-schedule-backlash\"><strong>Federer and Nadal\u2019s example explains Sinner, Djokovic Canada withdrawals amid schedule backlash<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/former-british-no-1-pinpoints-the-good-news-from-carlos-alcarazs-wrist-injury\"><strong>Former British No 1 pinpoints the \u2018good news\u2019 from Carlos Alcaraz\u2019s wrist injury<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking on the latest episode of his <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZHqUz2CR8B0\" target=\"_blank\">Off Court With Greg Rusedski<\/a> podcast, Rusedski discussed the news of Djokovic\u2019s upcoming appearance in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe good news is, he didn\u2019t play any lead-ups to Paris because of the shoulder problem, so, the shoulder must be doing a lot better [now]. And that is a positive sign,\u201d said the 1997 US Open finalist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo lead-up when he got to the finals of the Australian Open either, and Wimbledon. So, maybe he\u2019s starting to get his mojo back and the body\u2019s starting to bounce back and he\u2019s feeling healthy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to learn a lot more about Novak in Cincinnati. And that is an excellent sign for all those Djokovic fans out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rusedski, a former world No 4, also shared his thoughts on Jack Draper ahead of the Brit\u2019s anticipated comeback in Montreal .<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s trying to find solutions,\u201d said Rusedski. \u201cI just want to see him play a full match. I want to see him get through tournaments. As I said in our last show, he\u2019s a guy we need back in our sport.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a guy we want to see healthy. I don\u2019t want to talk about this anymore. I\u2019m bored of it! I just want to see him play some tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/atp-rankings-carlos-alcaraz-no-2-alexander-zverev-drops-rafael-jodar-9-denis-shapovalov-25\">ATP Rankings: Alcaraz at No 2 as Zverev drops, Jodar +9, Gea +45, Shapovalov +25<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US Open finalist reveals \u2018excellent sign\u2019 for Novak Djokovic ahead of Serb\u2019s return Ewan West 03 Aug 2026 6:00 PM A relaxed Novak Djokovic at training Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski thinks it is an \u201cexcellent sign\u201d that Novak Djokovic will play in Cincinnati ahead of the 2026 US Open. Djokovic confirmed last week [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2075427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2075427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2075427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2075427\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2075427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2075427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2075427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}