NEW YORK — Former tennis world number one Novak Djokovic says the expansion of most ATP Masters 1000 events to 12 days makes them “just way too long for me” as he focuses on his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.
EYES ON THE PRIZE Novak Djokovic AP PHOTO
“To be quite frank with you, I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore,” Djokovic said Friday (Saturday in Manila) as he spoke to reporters before the Sunday start of the US Open — the last Grand Slam of 2025.
“It’s just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the Slams, and I have said that before.
“But I also like other tournaments. I’d like to play more of the other tournaments, but I just, we have currently informally, unofficially, 12 Grand Slams a year when you think about it.
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“Grand Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well.”
At 38, the former world number one says his priorities have changed in the latter stages of his career.
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“I’m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera,” Djokovic said. “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?”
With family now at the forefront of his life, Djokovic said, he is less willing to miss out on major personal milestones.
He noted that his daughter’s birthday falls on Sept. 2, when he could find himself playing in the US Open quarterfinals.
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“But those are types of things that I really don’t want to be missing anymore,” he said.
Djokovic, long an advocate for player input in matters such as scheduling and player compensation, said he does not see how the Masters 1000s — which shifted this year from one-week to 12 days — could go back to the previous format.
Canada and Cincinnati in the run-up to the US Open became 12-day events this year.
“In 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,” he said.
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Djokovic himself has not played since a comprehensive semifinal loss to currently world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July.
He acknowledged that he is coming in “cold” in terms of match play, but said he had been training hard as he eyes a return to the later stages of the US Open.
A four-time winner in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2017 when he lost to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round of last year’s tournament. AFP
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The NFL joined the WNBA in having a sex toy thrown onto the field when someone tossed one during the Tennessee Titans’ preseason finale on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
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The neon green sex toy landed near the 6-yard line with about five minutes left in the Titans’ win over the Minnesota Vikings. The teams were on the field with the Titans on offense near midfield when the object hit the field close to the Tennessee sideline.
It was quickly picked up and given to a security guard near the wall.
It’s the latest in a string of disturbances where similar toys were tossed at WNBA games, resulting in at least three arrests.
Later on, Cam Ward’s first NFL touchdown of any kind will have to wait for the regular season after the No. 1 overall pick helped the Titans wrap up the preseason by beating the Vikings, 23-13.
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Ward finished his preseason 10 of 19 for 145 yards while playing into the second quarter of all three games. Against the Vikings, Ward didn’t complete his first pass. In his second series, he was 3 of 3 for 36 yards, driving the Titans 13 plays for 90 yards over 8:33.
Julius Chestnut capped the drive with a 1-yard run that put the Titans (2-1) up 7-3.
Minnesota (1-2) started rookie Max Brosmer at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy among the starters watching. Brosmer left after two series with the Vikings up 3-0 and returned in the final 30 seconds of the first half.
