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The Serbian will now aim to finish the season
strongly, starting with the U.S. hardcourt swing. He is
returning to the country for the first time in two years after
being denied entry due to being unvaccinated for COVID-19.
"I like the feeling that I have after 20 plus years of
professional tennis. There's still a fire going," Djokovic said
on the ATP website ahead of his Cincinnati opener against
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
"There's still that drive and motivation to really come at the
biggest events in sport and try to win, try to win titles and
try to bring some good sensation to the crowds."
Djokovic will compete in Cincinnati for the first time since
2019 as he prepares for the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 28.
"If I'm not motivated, I wouldn't be here," Djokovic added.
"After many years of professional tennis, I feel I have a choice
to play what I really want to. I really wanted to be in
Cincinnati and of course the U.S. Open is around the corner."
The three-times U.S. Open champion was given a taste of the
reception he is likely to receive with a massive turnout for his
practice session on Saturday.
"I made a joke with my coach and asked him whether we were at
the right court, because we thought it was a match," he said.
"It's really amazing. I'm very grateful for the presence of so
many people at a practice session."
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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