Novak Djokovic’s first tournament after US Open exit confirmed with two events also scheduled for October

Shahida Jacobs 01 Sep 2024 5:23 AM

Novak Djokovic speaks at a press conference

Novak Djokovic won’t take an extended break following his shock early exit from the US Open as he is set to return to action in just over a fortnight.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner was stunned by Alexei Popyrin in the third round at Flushing Meadows and has confirmed he will return to Belgrade ahead of his next event, the Davis Cup.

The tennis great has made no secret that representing his country is one of the highest honours and he has been included in Serbia’s squad for their World Group I playoffs against Greece.

Djokovic, of course, last represented Serbia at the Olympics where he won gold for the European nation and he will again don their colours for the Davis Cup tie that will be staged in Belgrade from September 14-15.

Serbia, who reached the semi-finals last year, have dropped to World Group I following their 0-4 defeat to Slovakia in the qualifying round in February with Djokovic absent from that team.

But the current world No 2 will be back on the squad with Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki also including Miomir Kecmanovic, Dusan Lajovic and Hamad Mededovic.

Djokovic is expected to take a break after representing his country with his next ATP Tour event only in September as he has confirmed his participation in the Shanghai Masters.

The four-time Shanghai champion will feature at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time since 2019 and he will be looking to end his 2024 ATP title drought.

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Djokovic has won only one title this year, gold at the Olympics, but he has not won any ATP/Grand Slam-organised events with his best performance his runners-up finish at Wimbledon while he also reached the semi-final of the Australian Open.

It is the first time since 2017 that he will finish the year without a Grand Slam title.

“I had a feeling that I could win the title at Roland Garros, but I got injured there. The Wimbledon final… The Olympics was the biggest goal, that’s where I played my best,” he told Serbian media.

“If it’s such a year to win only gold, I accept that, I have been waiting for it all my life.

“The weakest season in terms of results in the last 15 years, that’s how I feel, but that’s how it is.

“I will return to Belgrade so we will see going forward.”

The expanded Shanghai Masters will run from October 2-13 and there will be rest after that as he is set to fly to Saudi Arabia after for the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh.

The exhibition tournament – where each participant receives at least $1,5m and the winner walks away with a cheque of $6 million – will also feature fellow Grand Slam winners Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev while Holger Rune will be the only non-major champion to compete.