Novak Djokovic confronted an surprising upset on the Cincinnati Open, dropping to Thiago Agustin Tirante after battling intense warmth and humidity, elevating questions on his US Open preparation.
IMAGE: Thiago Agustín Tirante is congratulated by Novak Djokovic after profitable their second spherical match on the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Household Tennis Heart on Saturday. {Photograph}: Aaron Doster-Imagn Pictures/Reuters
Key Factors
- Novak Djokovic was unexpectedly defeated by Thiago Agustin Tirante on the Cincinnati Open.
- Djokovic struggled considerably with the warmth and humidity, requiring a medical timeout in the course of the match.
- The loss marks a disappointing efficiency for Djokovic forward of his pursuit of a twenty fifth Grand Slam title on the US Open.
- Thiago Agustin Tirante secured the largest win of his profession, rallying from a set down towards the tennis legend.
Thiago Agustin Tirante rallied previous Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on the Cincinnati Open on Saturday, because the Serbian struggled within the warmth and required a medical timeout in a disappointing US Open tune-up.
Enjoying his first match since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Jannik Sinner, Djokovic swept by the opening set of the second-round match earlier than the stifling humidity started to have an effect on him early within the second.
Djokovic’s Battle With Cincinnati Warmth
IMAGE: Novak Djokovic obtained remedy to assist cool him down after holding serve in the course of the second set. {Photograph}: Aaron Doster-Imagn Pictures/Reuters
The 39-year-old dropped to his knees throughout an 18-minute third sport that featured 9 deuces and 24 factors. He obtained remedy to assist cool him down after holding serve.
Djokovic supplied little resistance on return for the remainder of the set, seemingly targeted on reaching the decider, and emerged from the locker room for the third in a change of garments, wanting sharper.
Tirante Secures Profession-Defining Victory
IMAGE: Thiago Agustín Tirante celebrates after registering the largest win of his profession. {Photograph}: Aaron Doster-Imagn Pictures/Reuters
However with the pair degree at 4-4, Djokovic made a string of uncharacteristic errors, ending with a volley into the online that gave Tirante the decisive break.
The Fiftieth-ranked Argentine served out the match to safe the largest win of his profession and arrange a third-round assembly with Spain’s Martin Landaluce.
“I am serious about my household and my pals who’re in Argentina proper now,” he mentioned. “They’re in Argentina, however they’re in my coronary heart as nicely.”
Djokovic will look to regroup earlier than the US Open, the place he’ll search a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title.
