Novak Djokovic teams up with Filip Krajinovic for Cincinnati Masters doubles

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will team up with fellow compatriot Filip Krajinovic to play doubles at the Cincinnati Masters when the season restarts on August 21. 

The USTA is planning to stage both the Cincinnati Masters and US Open in New York, where players will be placed in a bubble and where they will have to follow strict health restrictions. 

The season has been suspended since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic and Djokovic wants to get in the rhythm by playing a doubles match before he kicks off his singles campaign at the Cincinnati Masters.

Djokovic, 33, and 28-year-old Krajinovic have played doubles together five times and their last appearance came at the Shanghai Masters in October 2019, when they made the round-of-16 at the tournament.

Djokovic and Krajinovic's best result as a pair came at the Qatar Open in 2015, when they made the semifinal before losing to Rafael Nadal and Juan Monaco. 

World No. 14 Andrey Rublev and world No. 15 Karen Khachanov are also planning to play doubles together at the Cincinnati Masters.

The Russians, who are mainly focused on singles, have made two Masters finals together as they ended runners-up at the Miami Masters in 2018, before they were beaten in the Paris Masters final last year. 

Some other big names could also appear in the doubles event of the Cincinnati Masters as world No. 3 Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak are on the alternates list.

2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, as well as world No. 7 Alexander Zverev and Tim Puetz, are also on the alternates list.

Djokovic (w/Krajinovic), Thiem (w/Novak), Tsitsipas (w/Cuevas), Zverev (w/Puetz) + top world’s teams on main draw and alternates list of „Cincinnati” doubles. https://t.co/Twrbds3bTX

— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) August 11, 2020

Djokovic wasn't a fan of US Open's health protocols 

The US Open organizers wanted to limit players to only one team member -- all as part of their strict hygiene restrictions. 

17-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic was against that and the organizers eventually decided to allow players to bring three team members. 

Recently, Djokovic came under criticism after four players -- including himself -- tested positive for the coronavirus at his Adria Tour event.

But the one who came to Djokovic's defense was Nadal, who said:  "I think most players want the best for the world and for people. It is clear that a mistake has been made in setting up the Tour in Serbia and Croatia, but it is normal to make mistakes when you have to face an unprecedented situation."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3aeay8y