Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Djokovic Falls to Tirante at Cincinnati Masters Amid Heat Struggles
Novak Djokovic is one of the best tennis players in the world and has won 24 big championships.
He was playing in a tournament called the Cincinnati Masters, where the weather was extremely hot and humid.
The heat made Djokovic feel very sick, and a doctor had to come onto the court with ice towels to help him cool down.
His opponent was Thiago Tirante from Argentina, a player ranked 50th in the world.
Djokovic started strong and won the first set, but Tirante fought back and won the next two.
The whole match lasted more than two and a half hours.
Tirante was overjoyed and said it was the best win of his career.
Djokovic explained that the hot weather makes a health problem he has feel worse, and he said he probably will not play in Cincinnati again next year.
He will now rest and get ready for the US Open, which starts on August 30.
Another young player from the Philippines, Alexandra Eala, also moved to the next round when her opponent was injured and could not continue.
Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, lost his opening match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Saturday to Argentina's Thiago Tirante.
Tirante, ranked 50th, won 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match lasting more than two and a half hours, calling it "the best win of my career."
Hit hard by the heat and humidity, Djokovic dropped to his hands and knees, appeared to vomit, and took a medical timeout treated with ice towels.
Djokovic said a recurring health condition is aggravated by severe heat and humidity and that he likely will not return to Cincinnati next year.
The match was Djokovic's first since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner; he must regroup before the US Open starts on August 30.
- Who
- Novak Djokovic and Argentina's Thiago Tirante.
- What
- Djokovic lost his opening match at the Cincinnati Masters 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, with Tirante advancing to the third round.
- When
- Saturday, ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 30.
- Where
- The ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters in Cincinnati.
- Why
- Djokovic was overcome by the severe heat and humidity, which he said aggravates a recurring health condition, and he needed a medical timeout.
- Event
- ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters (Cincinnati Open)
- Match Result
- Thiago Tirante def. Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Match Duration
- More than two and a half hours
- Round
- Djokovic's second-round opener; Tirante advanced to the third round
- Djokovic's Grand Slam Titles
- 24
- Djokovic's Cincinnati Titles
- Three-time champion, most recently in 2023
- Tirante's Next Opponent
- Martin Landaluce in the third round
- Next Major Event
- US Open begins August 30
