Novak Djokovic’s stay at the Cincinnati Open was a short one. It also might be his last.
The 24-time major champion fell to Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in a match that took 2 hours, 44 minutes in hot and humid conditions. Djokovic appeared to struggle physically in the heat and had his 10-match winning streak in Cincinnati snapped. The 39-year-old told reporters that an unspecified health condition made it difficult for him to play in hot and humid weather. 20 in the rankings — won her first WTA singles title in Washington earlier this month and has won eight of her last nine matches.
On the women’s side, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines continued her run of strong play with a victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who lost the first set and stopped playing in the second with an ankle injury.
“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,” Djokovic said. “I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately,” Djokovic said. “A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. I did anticipate it (would be humid), but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened. “But let’s see what the future brings. Eala — who is No.
Tirante Triumphs Over Djokovic in Final Set
In a stunning upset, Tirante broke Djokovic’s serve in the ninth game of the final set and successfully served out the match. Djokovic faced 15 break points, saving 13 of them, demonstrating resilience throughout the contest.
After the match, Tirante expressed his emotions, stating, “I think this is the best win of my career. I think I really did a good job inside the court. I managed very well the nerves of playing against a legend like Novak.” This victory marks a significant milestone in Tirante’s career against one of tennis’s greatest players.
