DJOKOVIC LOSES TO TIRANTE IN CINCINNATI SECOND ROUND

Novak Djokovic fell to Thiago Agustín Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Open. The match took place on 15 August, when temperatures in Cincinnati reached 31°C. Djokovic had received a first-round bye before the defeat, marking his return to competitive play after more than a month away from the Tour.

Djokovic struggled physically during the match in the heat conditions. He appeared to vomit during a changeover in the second set, prompting his trainer and physio to attend to him. During the contest, he removed his shirt, applied an ice pack to his head, and used an inhaler in attempts to manage the conditions. A third-set game between Djokovic and Tirante lasted 17 minutes and 51 seconds, stretching through nine deuces and becoming the longest single game at an ATP Masters 1000 event this season. Tirante secured the break needed to take the set and the match.

When asked in the post-match press conference whether he would return to Cincinnati, Djokovic stated: "I certainly hope so, but unfortunately, at this point it seems more likely that I won't." According to reports, Djokovic has been dealing with an ongoing health condition. Tirante's victory marked only the second time this season that a player ranked outside the top 30 has defeated Djokovic in Cincinnati.