At US Open, Novak Djokovic confirms “No schedule other than Slams”

NEW YORK—Novak Djokovic has taken the concept of a Grand Slam-focused schedule to a new extreme this season, opting out of ATP tournaments entirely since Roland Garros in an effort to optimize his chance of winning a 25th major title.

“I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family,” Djokovic explained during his US Open Media Day press conference. “And to be honest, you know, I think I earned my right and have the luxury of kind of choosing, picking and choosing where I want to go and what I want to play.”

Djokovic has indeed played plenty of tournaments throughout his two decades on tour, winning at least two of all nine of the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. But the former world No. 1 has played no more than four in each of the last five years, missing both clay-court Masters in Madrid and Rome before Roland Garros and the Canada-Cincinnati double before the US Open.

“I don't actually have any schedule other than Slams, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who has reached the semifinals of all three major tournaments in 2025. “To be quite frank with you, I don't enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore. It's just way too long for me.

“So yeah, it's just not any more prioritizing the heavy schedule as I used to. I'm not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera. I just don't think about it anymore. For me, it's really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play? And Slams are obviously the four main tournaments where I always feel the most motivation.”

It’s at the Grand Slams where Djokovic is still willing to sacrifice that sought-after family time, noting daughter Tara celebrates her birthday on September 2, right in the middle of the US Open.

“Those are types of things that I really don't want to be missing anymore. So, it's just on a personal level for me important to be there, to show up, you know, for the people that have been showing up for me for all these years playing tennis.”

Speaking more broadly about the increase in two-week 1000-level tournaments, Djokovic was sympathetic to player complaints about the calendar—but only to a point.

I'm not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera. I just don't think about it anymore. For me, it's really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play? And Slams are obviously the four main tournaments where I always feel the most motivation. Novak Djokovic

“I support the players,” said Djokovic, the No. 7 seed at this year’s US Open. “But at the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren't participating enough.

“This is an ongoing story of the players, particularly top players. They express their feelings, but…you really need [them] to put in the time and the energy into conversations, meetings, which I know it's very difficult. I have been there, trust me, many times. But it's necessary because then, you know, you're doing something not only for yourself but future generations, and you're making the right moves, the right steps, and contributing.”

Though Djokovic has been off the court in an official capacity since his Wimbledon defeat to Jannik Sinner, the 38-year-old confirmed he has been training to ensure his readiness for the final major tournament of the season, where he will open against American Learner Tien. He punctuated his arrival to the Big Apple with a trip to a New York Yankees game on Thursday, where he met Aaron Judge and threw out the first pitch.

The four-time US Open champion, who competed in the revamped mixed doubles last week alongside Olga Danilovic, also keeps up with the tournaments he’s not playing, praising the continued rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz—while hoping for a spoiler to recreate the Big 3 dynamic he enjoyed for much of his own career.

“On a global sport stage, these are the types of encounters and rivalries people get very excited about,” said Djokovic. “When it comes to individual sports like ours or boxing, Formula 1 racing, whatever it is, golf, people love to see rivalries. I think their rivalry is, without a doubt, the best one we have in the moment. And it looks like it's going to stay like that for some time.

“And then you have obviously other young players that are definitely going to challenge them, and hopefully somebody can get in the mix. You know, [Holger] Rune was there, and he kind of goes up and down. [Joao] Fonseca. There are players that are able to have that ‘Djoker’ spot, the third spot.

“I kind of empathize with the third guy, because I was in those shoes with Federer and Nadal. I want to see a third guy coming in,” he added with a smile.

Though he was referring to the younger generation, it's a role Djokovic still appears capable of filling himself.