Novak Djokovic Stunned by Heat and Tirante in Cincinnati Open Upset

MASON, Ohio —

Novak Djokovic's return to hard courts lasted one match. The 39-year-old Serbian, playing for the first time since his Wimbledon semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner, was beaten 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Thiago Agustín Tirante of Argentina in the second round of the Cincinnati Open on Saturday, according to BBC Sport, Sky Sports and the Guardian.

Djokovic breezed through the first set, but the humidity in Ohio caught up with him almost immediately after. He won an 18-minute third game of the second set that included nine deuces and four break points he had to fend off, according to Sky Sports. He then called for a medical timeout, dropped to his hands and knees between points, and appeared to vomit twice, the BBC reported. A physio and a doctor both came onto the court to check on him, and Channel NewsAsia reported that his blood pressure was checked as well.

A Career-Best Win For Tirante

Djokovic came out for the third set in a change of clothes and looked briefly sharper, but he made a string of errors as the set reached 4-4, according to Channel NewsAsia, and Tirante broke his serve for good before closing out the match. The 25-year-old, ranked 50th in the world, called it "the best win of my career," telling reporters, "I managed the nerves of playing a legend like Novak. It was all so much pressure," according to the BBC. Sky Sports reported that Tirante now holds a 4-1 record against top 10 players.

Djokovic had never lost before the fourth round in Cincinnati since making his debut there in 2005, according to the BBC. He was seeded third in the tournament despite ranking fifth in the world, after top-ranked Sinner withdrew with a knee injury and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz stayed out with a wrist issue, Sky Sports reported.

Health Concerns Ahead Of The US Open

After the match, Djokovic told reporters the issue was not new. "It's just the condition that I have health-wise," he said, according to the Guardian. "It's been bothering me for the last couple of years. And a lot of issues, especially when it's humid and hot." Asked if he expected to play in Cincinnati again, he said, "I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately."

The loss leaves Djokovic with a 2-3 record across his three non-Grand Slam tournaments this season, at Indian Wells, Rome and Cincinnati, the Guardian reported. He now heads to the US Open, where he is seeking a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title, according to Channel NewsAsia.