Novak Djokovic alluded to a persistent health "condition" after suffering a surprising defeat at the Cincinnati Open, where he fell to the unseeded Thiago Agustin Tirante on Saturday. The 39-year-old tennis player appeared to struggle in the humid conditions, marking the end of his 10-match winning streak at the tournament.
Djokovic lost to Tirante with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 44 minutes. "It's just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years," Djokovic stated when asked about his physical state. "A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot."
He added that while he had anticipated the heat and humidity, other factors also played a role. Djokovic, a three-time Cincinnati champion, has a record of 45-13 at the event. However, he expressed uncertainty about his future participation.
"I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately," Djokovic said. "But let's see what the future brings."
Tirante, a 25-year-old from Argentina ranked No. 50 in the world, secured the biggest win of his career. Djokovic, currently ranked No. 5, was competing for the first time since his loss to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals. His next scheduled event is the U.S. Open, which begins August 30 in New York.
In other Cincinnati Open matches, top-seeded Alexander Zverev came back from a set down to defeat Cameron Norrie 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. On the women's side, Alexandra Eala advanced after her opponent, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, retired with an ankle injury. American Jessica Pegula also won her match, defeating Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2. Pegula, ranked third in the world, won the Cincinnati title in 2024 and holds a 25-6 record on hard courts this year.