It was hard to fathom that Novak Djokovic’s 2020 U.S. Open campaign ended the way it did. Heck, any kind of exit prior to lifting the winner’s trophy would have been a surprise. After all, the world No. 1 was 23-0 this season heading into the second Grand Slam and he was fresh off a Cincinnati Masters title–also at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Djokovic’s ouster from New York was not even a real “loss.” He was losing at the time, down a break at 6-5 to Pablo Carreno Busta in the first set of their fourth-round match.
Of course, that is when disaster struck. An accidental ball strike into a lineswoman’s throat was an automatic default, and now the 33-year-old Serb must pick up the pieces and get back in gear on clay. A week and a half off should have him ready to go for Wednesday’s opener against Salvatore Caruso.
The 87th-ranked Italian is in stellar form, having successful qualified for the Cincinnati main draw before making a run to round three of the U.S. Open (lost to Andrey Rublev). Caruso opened in Rome by outlasting Tennys Sandgren 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) on Monday.
Especially on clay, the 27-year-old is no slouch. Still, Djokovic is going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder–and when he does that, he is even tougher to beat…if that’s possible.
The scoreline will likely be lopsided in the four-time Rome champion’s favor, but Caruso will at least be able to play his way into more than a few entertaining baseline rallies.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
who ya got?
Joker in 2.