US Open 2026: Novak Djokovic Practices With Former Top-10 Tennis Star

Former World No.1, Novak Djokovic will be starting his campaign at the US Open 2026 as one of the firm favourites to win the championship and complete a 25 Grand Slam win, particularly after the current world number one player Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the tournament.

The Serb has been nursing an injury and dealing with fatigue-related issues through the hardcourt season in North America, which eventually led to his early exit from the Cincinnati Open; suffering a defeat at the hands of Thiago Agustin Tirante.

Djokovic started his US campaign by participating in the mixed doubles event, partnering with the women’s world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. However, the duo, playing for the first time as a team, lost in their first match against Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner has continued to hit the ground and gain full fitness before the main singles draw begins at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The superstar is scheduled to hit the Louis Armstrong Arena for another practise session in New York along with the world no 48, and his good friend Dennis Shapovalov.

Both Djokovic and Shapovalov are scheduled to play at 3PM and 5PM ET in New York, just three days before the main draw is set to begin. Over the past few years, Shapovalov’s ranking has dipped, but he was once among the top 10 tennis players on the ATP Tour.

The pair are no strangers to each other, and they have previously played against each other eight times on the ATP Tour with Shapovalov having not so fond memories of the duel between the two competitors, as he has lost all eight matches to the tennis icon.

Djokovic knocked out Shapovalov from two Grand Slams - one at the Wimbledon and the Australian Open as well as three other Masters tournaments. The two have not faced each other in the last three seasons and their last meeting came at the Adelaide International in 2023.

Both men will be looking to do well in the US and they are most likely coming into the tournament with different goals. Whilst Shapovalov has only once previously reached the quarter finals of a Grand Slam, he will be looking to make it to the second week of the contest.

On the other hand, Djokovic will be backing himself to win the tournament and claim the incredible feat of a 25th Grand Slam title win.