(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Jimmy Connors Backs Novak Djokovic for US Open Success, But Shares One Concern
Tennis legend Jimmy Connors believes Novak Djokovic still has what it takes to contend for the US Open title, but admits there’s one factor that has him slightly concerned — the lack of match play leading into the tournament.
The 38-year-old Serbian star, currently ranked world No. 6, has not competed since his Wimbledon semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner, where he appeared to be hampered by a leg issue. Following that defeat, Djokovic withdrew from both the Toronto Masters and the Cincinnati Masters, meaning he will enter the season’s final Grand Slam without any official matches since mid-July.
Speaking on the Advantage Connors podcast, the eight-time Grand Slam champion shared his thoughts:
“You can’t count him out. The only thing that worries me is that I wish he had gone to Cincinnati and played a couple of matches. He left Wimbledon in the semis, which is still a strong result, but then took more than two months off. He’s been spending time with family, which is great, but match rhythm is important.”
While Djokovic has often succeeded at Majors despite limited preparation, Connors noted that the competition is tougher now with stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in top form.
Last year, Djokovic suffered a third-round US Open exit against Alexei Popyrin after a grueling summer that included his Paris Olympics victory. This time, he’ll arrive in New York fresh and rested — a factor that could work in his favor as he chases more Grand Slam glory.
