Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was eliminated early from the Cincinnati Open after suffering a surprising defeat against Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante, ranked 50th in the world.
Tirante defeated Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that saw the Serbian star’s level drop significantly during the second and third sets.
Djokovic started strongly and dominated the opening set, winning it comfortably 6-2. However, the momentum changed as he appeared to struggle with the high temperatures and humidity in Cincinnati.
Fatigue Affects Djokovic
Djokovic’s fatigue became increasingly evident during the second set, particularly after a marathon game that lasted around 19 minutes.
The Serbian received a medical timeout while trailing Tirante 2-1, as the difficult weather conditions appeared to take their toll.
Tirante took full advantage of Djokovic’s decline and continued to play aggressively, relying on his powerful serve and heavy groundstrokes from the baseline.
The Argentine produced 13 aces and 40 winners, securing the biggest victory of his career against one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Djokovic Suffers Early Cincinnati Exit
The defeat marked the first time since 2007 that Djokovic has been eliminated from the Cincinnati tournament in his second match.
The Serbian star had previously won the Cincinnati title three times, in 2018, 2020 and 2023, but his campaign this year ended early against Tirante.
After the match, Djokovic spoke about the difficult weather conditions and their impact on his performance.
“It seems I won’t be coming back to play in Cincinnati, unfortunately,” Djokovic said, raising further questions about his future participation at the tournament.
Zverev Beats Norrie to Advance
Elsewhere, German star Alexander Zverev, the tournament’s top seed, booked his place in the third round after coming from behind to defeat Britain’s Cameron Norrie 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The match lasted around two and a half hours and ended after 2 a.m. local time.
Zverev continues his campaign as several major contenders have already been eliminated, including Italian star Jannik Sinner and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Djokovic.
Zverev will face Frenchman Terence Atmane, ranked 45th in the world, in the next round as he looks to continue his run and challenge for the title.
Alex de Minaur Reaches the Third Round
Australian star Alex de Minaur also advanced to the third round after defeating France’s Quentin Halys 1-6, 6-3, 7-6.
De Minaur remains in contention at the Cincinnati Open as the tournament continues to produce intense competition following the early exits of several major names.
Who eliminated Novak Djokovic from Cincinnati?
Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante, ranked 50th in the world, defeated Djokovic.
What was the score between Djokovic and Tirante?
Tirante won 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
How many times has Djokovic won Cincinnati?
Djokovic has won the Cincinnati title three times, in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
Who will Alexander Zverev face next?
Zverev will face Frenchman Terence Atmane in the third round.
