Djokovic stunned by Tirante in Cincinnati heat
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- Novak Djokovic fell to Argentina's Thiago Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Open, dropping to his hands and knees before taking a medical timeout during the second set.
- Djokovic, 39, appeared to vomit twice during the match as he struggled with heat and humidity, and both a physio and a doctor provided on-court assistance before both players retired to the dressing rooms after the second set.
- The 24-time Grand Slam champion was playing his first match since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.
- Djokovic had reached at least the last 32 at the Cincinnati tournament every year since his 2005 debut before this defeat.
- Thiago Tirante, ranked 50th in the world, called it "the best win of my career," saying he managed the nerves of "playing a legend like Novak."
Why it matters: Djokovic had never failed to reach the last 32 in Cincinnati across two decades of participation, making this defeat to a player ranked 50th in the world a stark marker of his physical vulnerability at age 39 as he returned from a Wimbledon semi-final loss.
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