Two-time champion Novak Djokovic has announced his withdrawal from the Western & Southern Open to enhance his chances of securing a calendar Grand Slam.
After winning Wimbledon, the third major of the year, the 34-year-old lost in the bronze medal match to Pablo Carreno Busta at the Tokyo Olympics before pulling out of the mixed doubles citing a shoulder issue.
The 20-time major singles champion has now opted out of the tournament in Cincinnati to focus on preparing for the US Open.
Djokovic said on Twitter: "Dear fans, I wanted to share with you that I am taking a bit longer to recover and recuperate after quite a taxing journey from Australia to Tokyo.
"Sadly, that means I won't be ready to compete in Cincinnati this year so I'll turn my focus and attention to US Open and spend some more time with family. See you in New York soon!"
