But since the 2024 season, two players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, plus physical setbacks, have ruined his Grand Slam campaigns. Then at this year's French Open, Djokovic couldn't capitalize on his two-set lead against Joao Fonseca in the third round.

So far this season, Nole has competed in just five tournaments: the first three Majors, the Indian Wells Masters, and the Italian Open. And through an Instagram story, he has confirmed his participation in the Cincinnati Masters, the main draw of which starts on August 13.

Last year, Djokovic competed in three ATP 250 events, losing in the quarterfinals in Brisbane and winning in Geneva and Athens. Jeff Ryan, the director of the ATP 250 Winston-Salem, wants the Serb to participate in the tournament at least once before his retirement.

I like to say, I think the truth is, to your point, you know, we're really not a top-20 type of event. Those folks are either further gainfully employed now by the USTA in their fan week exhibitions and what's going on up there, or the resting up or otherwise. So that being said, if somehow, some way I could - before I retire - [be] part of getting somebody like Djokovic to come through here, that would have an incredible impact on this community.

Winston-Salem is set to start on August 22 and will be wrapped up on August 29. The following day, the main draw of the US Open will kick off.

I honestly think it might even have an impact on him just to see the tournament like ours - a beautiful city like ours, an association with a great university like Wake [Forest]. I just think it would be over the top, over the moon.

Ryan also wishes to see Alcaraz play again in the tournament. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has played in Winston-Salem just once, in 2021, and reached the semifinals, where Mikael Ymer clinched a straight-set win.

Kyle Edmund, the 31-year-old former player from Britain, faced Novak Djokovic seven times and could only clinch the win once. Recently, during an episode of the Beyond The Numbers podcast, Edmund explained why he struggled a great deal while facing the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

I struggled to get any free points off my serve. The return was always coming back. You can tell he knows his movement and anticipation is elite because sometimes when the ball is sitting there, against some opponents you'd expect the ball to be hit really hard, but he doesn't necessarily go for the lines. He'll always hit a margin, a bit of shape, but he knows that you can't do anything off that.

Edmund called time on his career last August. He won two singles titles and reached a career-best ranking of No.14 back in 2018.

The 39-year-old, on the other hand, wants to hang up his racket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He was last seen in action at Wimbledon, where, following a marathon win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals, he lost in straight sets to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic has played just one final this season. At the Australian Open, after snapping his five-match losing streak against Sinner, Djokovic lost in four sets to Carlos Alcaraz in the final, making the Spaniard the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

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