Novak Djokovic Returns To U.S. After 2-Year Hiatus While Facing ...

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 31: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning match point against Marton ... [+] Fucsovics of Hungary during the Men's Singles Second Round Match on Day Four of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on May 31, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic played his first match in the United States in nearly two years on Wednesday night and only had to spend 43 minutes on court at the Western & Southern Open outside Cincinnati.

Djokovic’s opponent, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, retired after losing the first set 6-4 while dealing with an apparent lower back injury.

“Of course, it’s great for me to be able to come back to the court and win the match, but obviously mixed emotions with the way it finished,” Djokovic said in a Tennis Channel interview.

“Nevertheless, I’m hoping that I can build my form day to day and progress through the tournament raising the level.”

Djokovic had not played in the U.S. since the 2021 U.S. Open due to his vaccination status. He was not permitted to enter the U.S. for last year’s U.S. Open or for Indian Wells and Miami this season because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

This year, some 3,500 fans jammed the practice courts just to get a glimpse of Djokovic preparing to play again in the States. The 36-year-old 23-time Grand Slam champion is back and looking to build toward the start of the U.S. Open on Aug. 28 with a deep run in Cincinnati, where world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz sits on the opposite side of the draw.

Djokovic was playing his first tour match since losing the Wimbledon final to Alcaraz in five sets last month. In that match, Djokovic was seeking a record-tying 24th major title, a record-tying eighth Wimbledon and the third leg of the calendar Grand Slam.

Next up in Cincinnati he will face another 36-year-old in Gael Monfils of France, who knocked off Alex de Minaur of Australia, 6-4, 7-5, earlier Wednesday.

“He’s an amazing guy, someone I truly, truly respect and like a lot as a person,” Djokovic said of Monfils, against whom he is 18-0.

“He brings so much joy to the fans, so much entertainment, one of the most charismatic players that we’ve had in the last two decades on the tour. It’s great to see him back after several years of struggling with injuries and he’s playing as good as ever....He’s playing amazing so it’s going to be the dual of the veterans tomorrow, I guess.”

Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier believes Djokovic is facing less pressure because he lost the Wimbledon final. Had he won, he would have captured the first three legs of the calendar Slam and would be trying to match Rod Laver and Steffi Graf for that incredible feat.

In 2021, Djokovic came within one match of the calendar Slam but lost the U.S. Open final to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.

“I do think that had he won Wimbledon that having gone through the experience in 2021, he would’ve been better suited for the challenge,” Courier said on Tennis Channel, “but there’s no doubt [he’s facing less pressure].

“Now it’s just can I add another one? It’s not, can I get the Grand Slam, can I join Rod Laver and Steffi Graf and the greats that have done that so there’s not quite as much on the table, but there’s still plenty to eat for Novak.”

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