BREAKING NEWS: Novak Djokovic withdraws from Toronto
(Provided by Tennis World USA)
23-time Major winner Novak Djokovic needs more time off the court after his demanding trips to Roland Garros and Wimbledon! Novak has withdrawn from the upcoming Canadian Masters in Toronto, citing fatigue as the main reason and not returning to Canada five years after last competing there..
Djokovic is enjoying his family holiday in Croatia, recharging his batteries ahead of Cincinnati and the US Open, his next steps on the calendar. The Serbian won four Canadian Masters titles between 2007 and 2016, two each in Montreal and Toronto.
Novak ended his last Canadian 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 majors at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Novak made history in Paris, becoming the first player with 23 Major titles, leaving Rafael Nadal on 22.Djokovic was the overwhelming favorite at Wimbledon, embracing an incredible run at The All England Club since 2018 and reaching another final.
The Serbian faced Carlos Alcaraz in the title clash and suffered a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 defeat in four hours and 42 minutes. Both players managed five breaks and the young gun hit at the key moments to lift his second Major title at the age of 20!
Novak got off to a perfect start, securing the opener in the 34th minute and creating a set point in the second set tie break that could have sent him miles ahead. However, his backhand let him down and Carlos stole the break 8-6 to level the overall score after two hours.
Carlos stormed Novak in the third set, breaking his serve three times, the same number of breaks that Novak experienced in six matches before the final! The fifth game featured 13 deuces and 32 points, lasting 27 minutes and draining a lot of energy from Djokovic, who served.
Novak Djokovic won’t be playing in Toronto for a couple of weeks.
Carlos earned the seventh break point when Novak landed a forehand to gain huge momentum and steal power from the veteran.
The Spaniard closed out the set with another break at 5-1 for a big lead ahead of the number four set. Novak saved two break points in the second game to end his slump. The Serbian raised his level in the return to grab breaks in games five and nine and close out the set 6-3.
They lost a break point in the first and second games of the final set, with Djokovic hitting a drive-volley in the second game that would cost him dearly. Carlos gave a break in the third game with a backhand on the winning line and moved closer to the finish line.
Alcaraz served for the title at 5-4 and held at 30 after forcing an error from Djokovic to lift his second Major trophy.”I have always enjoyed my time in Canada, but after talking with my team, we feel this is the right decision.
I would like to thank Karl Hale, the tournament director, for understanding this decision. I really hope to be able to come back to Canada and Toronto in the next few years to play in front of great fans there,” said Novak Djokovic.
