Cincinnati Open: Djokovic stunned by Tirante in second round

Novak Djokovic was defeated in the second round of the Cincinnati Open by Argentine player Thiago Tirante on Saturday, marking what could be the Serbian tennis legend's final appearance at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. The match, which lasted over two and a half hours, saw Djokovic fall 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 despite battling through intense heat and humidity conditions. Djokovic, who had not played since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals nearly a month earlier, faced challenges throughout the match. He took an early lead in the first set but struggled to maintain momentum as the temperature rose. The second set proved particularly difficult for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, with Tirante eventually taking the set and pushing Djokovic to the brink. In the third set, Djokovic showed signs of resilience, managing to save multiple break points. However, the physical toll of the match became evident as he collapsed in pain following a long rally. A medical timeout was called, with a physiotherapist and a doctor assisting him on court. Despite these interventions, Djokovic was unable to recover fully and ultimately succumbed to Tirante's relentless pressure. Thiago Tirante secured a historic victory, claiming his first career win over a top-tier player. The 29-year-old Argentine described the moment as the best of his career, acknowledging the immense pressure of facing a tennis icon. "I managed the nerves of playing a legend like Novak. It was all so much pressure," Tirante said after the match. Djokovic, who previously held the title of the Cincinnati Masters in 2023, expressed disappointment with the outcome. He acknowledged that the conditions may have played a role in his performance but emphasized the difficulty of the match. "It was a combination of the heat and humidity, all those things. Everything involved makes it worse," Djokovic stated. Meanwhile, top seed Alexander Zverev, the French Open champion, advanced past Cameron Norrie in a tightly contested match. Zverev, who had been struggling with form following an unexpected loss in Canada, found his rhythm in the later stages of the match. After a slow start, Zverev dominated the latter parts of the contest, securing a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory that concluded at 2:15 am local time. Norrie, who had previously lost all eight matches against Zverev, fought valiantly but was ultimately unable to overcome the German's improved form. Zverev spoke positively about his progress, noting that he was able to regain his confidence after a challenging period. "I needed to get a match rhythm. The confidence was not there after Canada," Zverev explained. In the women's draw, Filipino rising star Alexandra Eala continued her impressive run, defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse in straight sets. Ruse, who had sustained an injury to her right ankle, withdrew from the match due to a weather-related delay. Eala, who recently claimed her first WTA title in Washington, D.C., will face ninth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova in the next round. Eala expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting her focus and determination during the match. "I was playing well and feeling really focused," she said. "I tried to stay calm and execute my plan." As the tournament progresses, attention will remain on Djokovic's future plans ahead of the upcoming US Open, which begins on August 30. With the Cincinnati Open drawing to a close, the spotlight shifts to the next major tournaments, where players will continue to vie for glory on the international stage.