Novak Djokovic's return to the Cincinnati Open ended prematurely on 15/8, as he succumbed to a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 defeat against Thiago Agustin Tirante in the second round. The Serbian star, who last competed in Cincinnati in 2023, won the longest final in the tournament's history that year, a 3-hour, 49-minute battle against Carlos Alcaraz. This unexpected loss marks a significant setback for Djokovic ahead of the US Open.

This defeat represents the first time Djokovic has failed to reach the third round in Cincinnati since his tournament debut in 2005. At that time, the event featured only 64 players before expanding to a two-week format starting in 2025.

Djokovic started strong, winning the last four games of the first set. However, his physical condition became a concern for the 39-year-old as the match progressed in Ohio's hot and humid conditions. In the third game of the second set, with the score tied at 1-1, Djokovic called for medical assistance. The game lasted almost 18 minutes, during which he saved four break points. He then received attention from the tournament doctor during the changeover.

Djokovic experienced physical issues during his second-round match against Tirante at the Cincinnati Open in Ohio, USA on 15/8. *Photo: Sky*

Despite continuing, Djokovic struggled to maintain consistency. Tirante secured his first break in the seventh game, capitalizing on an unforced error from his more experienced opponent, then won the set 6-4, forcing a decisive third set. This was the earliest Djokovic had dropped a set in Cincinnati since his opening match in 2014 against Gilles Simon.

In the third set, the 24-time Grand Slam champion frequently reached for his lower back and took more time between points. Both players held their serves for the initial eight games. In the ninth game, Djokovic saved three break points but made an error on a crucial drop shot, giving Tirante the opportunity for the decisive break. The Argentine then served confidently to win the final game, concluding the match in 2 hours 44 minutes.

Djokovic saved 13 out of 15 break points, but could not prevent Tirante from securing the biggest win of his career. "I think this is the biggest win. I did very well on court and controlled the tension of facing a legend like Novak," Tirante said after the match.

The 25-year-old player is now ranked 50th in the world, a career high. He improved his record against top 10 opponents to 4-1. 2026 is proving to be a breakthrough season for Tirante. Before this year, he had never won more than six ATP-level matches in a single season. However, after defeating Djokovic, he has achieved 23 wins, including victories over Ben Shelton in Munich in April and Taylor Fritz in Montreal earlier this month.

"I think I'm doing everything correctly. My team helps me believe in myself more and listen to them between points. That is the key this year," Tirante said.

For Djokovic, this loss came in his first match back since his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals last month. More concerning are the signs of physical issues in the hot and humid conditions, as Djokovic repeatedly slowed down between points and sought medical attention. He is expected to rest for almost two weeks before competing in the US Open Grand Slam later this month.

Vy Anh