Overview
- Novak Djokovic lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Thiago Agustín Tirante on Saturday, Aug. 15, in a 2-hour 44-minute second-round match at the Cincinnati Masters.
- Djokovic showed visible physical distress during the match, vomited, dropped to his knees in a lengthy game, and took a medical timeout that included treatment from a physio and a doctor.
- After the match Djokovic disclosed he has dealt for years with a health issue that is aggravated by heat and high humidity and said it may affect whether he returns to Cincinnati in the future.
- Tirante called the win the best of his career and advanced to face Martin Landaluce in the third round, using aggressive serving and forehand pressure to force errors from Djokovic.
- The upset leaves Djokovic with two weeks to regroup before the U.S. Open and shifts scrutiny to his physical resilience in humid conditions that mirror those expected at Flushing Meadows, which could shape his preparation and tournament choices.