Novak Djokovic decided to travel to New York for the US Open amid the COVID-19 pandemic because the 17-time Grand Slam champion did not want to pass up on the opportunity to close in on Roger Federer's record tally of 20.
Images from Day 10 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Thursday.
Here is a timeline of Djokovic's decline since the last of his 12 Grand Slam titles.
World number one Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified in the US Open fourth round on Sunday after striking a line judge with a ball following a point during the first set of his match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.
Images from Tuesday's action at the Australian Open.
Djokovic helped Serbia to a 3-0 victory over Japan in their Group A opener on Wednesday at La Caja Magica where a revamped Davis Cup climax is being contested by 18 nations over seven days.
Elena Rybakina set up a showdown with 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova for a place in Saturday's final.
The split means Djokovic is now left with his part-time coach and former world number eight Radek Stepanek.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the Wimbledon Championships played on Monday.
All players who want a visa to compete in the Australian Open will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, the country's immigration minister said on Wednesday, putting Novak Djokovic's title defence and Grand Slam record bid in doubt.
Another day, another milestone reached for Novak Djokovic as he racked up Grand Slam victory number 350.
IMAGES from the French Open quarter-finals played in Paris on Tuesday.
Roger Federer lit up the O2 Arena with a dazzling 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Novak Djokovic to hand the Serb an early ATP Finals exit and wreck his bid to end the year ranked number one on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic used a dizzying array of drop shots to make short work of Karen Khachanov at the Dubai Open on Thursday, reaching the semi-finals with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over the Russian seventh seed.
Novak Djokovic sharpened his grasscourt game ahead of next week's Wimbledon by beating Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4 on Friday to reach the Aegon International final on another rain-disrupted day at Eastbourne.
World number one Novak Djokovic says he is excited by the prospect of playing at the US Open but says it would only be fair if every player eligible is able to compete. The Unites States Tennis Association (USTA) announced this week that the US Open would go ahead at the end of August without fans and with strict health protocols in place.
The Serb was knocked off top spot by Rafael Nadal on Monday despite winning the Paris Masters last week and will need a strong finish alongside the River Thames to snatch it back.
'Honestly, I think he can overtake them, but I wouldn't like to say that for sure. The race is on'
'It ranks right at the top. Under the circumstances, playing against Nadal, such an important match, it's amazing," the 31-year-old told reporters after needing barely two hours to extend his perfect record in seven Australian Open finals'
Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic's reign to usher in a new era at Wimbledon -- a win that was being trumpeted as the changing of the guard in men's tennis.
Images from Day 11 of the 2020 French Open at Roland Garros, in Paris, on Wednesday.
Djokovic struggled with both his serve and backhand during a 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-1 win over Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero and later said his left shoulder had been bothering him for weeks with the pain getting worse during the match.
Novak Djokovic is aware of Kei Nishikori's battling qualities having lost twice to the Japanese in 17 career meetings.
Nick Kyrgios has likened Novak Djokovic to NBA player LeBron James in his influence both on and off the court but says he had a duty to call out the world number one when he "lost his way" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twice finalist Ruud overcomes Davidovich Fokina test
Certainly the prospect of another showdown at the US Open in a few weeks is exciting, but whether or not 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic can stretch his career long enough to battle Carlos Alcaraz on a regular basis is questionable.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the Wimbledon Championships, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic said winning a record 23rd men's singles Grand Slam title at the French Open was special given that it was always the toughest one to win for him.
Novak Djokovic reached the Paris Masters final for the sixth time
'I spoke to Roger and Rafa a few days ago and we had a conversation about the near future of tennis. How we can contribute to help lower ranked guys who are obviously struggling the most.'
Djokovic saved a fifth match point but Thiem finally got the job done when he forced his opponent to float a defensive forehand over the baseline.
Dominic Thiem, U.S. Open winner in 2020, has secured a place in the main draw of the Australian Open after the withdrawal of Reilly Opelka, the tournament organisers confirmed on Friday.
'He can say what he wants, I don't have a problem with it. Does he show me the same amount of respect that most other players do? No, he doesn't, but that's the way he communicates these days'
Novak Djokovic launched his bid to stay on course for a Golden Slam with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 win over 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia on Saturday, as sweltering conditions in Tokyo took a toll on the players on the opening day of tennis at the Games.
World number one Novak Djokovic has said participating in the US Open would be an impossible task due to the "extreme" COVID-19 protocols in place for the tournament at Flushing Meadows. The US Open, scheduled to begin on August 31, will be the first Grand Slam to be played after the coronavirus pandemic suspended the season in March. The French Open was postponed to September while the Wimbledon championships was cancelled.
World number one Rafael Nadal has been drawn alongside defending champion Alexander Zverev, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) reported.
Novak Djokovic has 17 Grand Slam titles to his name - two behind Rafael Nadal and three fewer than Roger Federer - and said he has no doubt in his ability to overtake the other members of the so-called 'Big Three.'
Jelena Jankovic teamed up with men's world number one Djokovic at his tennis complex in Serbia's capital and beat the duo of Serbia's Davis Cup captain Nenad Zimonjic and 19-year-old prospect Olga Danilovic 7-6 in a mixed doubles contest.
Russian Andrey Rublev beat Norwegian top seed Casper Ruud
Jannik Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday.
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