Novak Djokovic’s run at the Cincinnati Masters came to an end in the second round.
The third seed was defeated by world No. 50 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, who came from a set down to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The match lasted two hours and 44 minutes, with the demanding conditions and high humidity making the contest particularly challenging, especially in the second half.
Novak made a confident start, with two breaks of serve giving him a commanding advantage. He secured the first early in the set, while Tirante had two consecutive opportunities to break back in the seventh game but failed to convert either. Novak punished the missed chances with another break in the final game and, after 44 minutes, took the opening set 6-2.
The second set turned into a long and physically demanding battle. The third game alone lasted 18 minutes and featured 23 points, with the Serbian eventually coming through after a lengthy exchange. Due to the extremely difficult conditions and high humidity, Novak then requested a medical timeout. After play resumed, Tirante levelled the set, while Novak managed to come through another demanding service game despite visibly struggling physically. The turning point came in the seventh game, when the Argentine raised his level, put pressure on the Serbian and earned the break. He then consolidated his advantage and held on to take the set 6-4, levelling the match at one set apiece.
Novak looked considerably better at the start of the deciding set. Neither player managed to create a break point until the ninth game, when Tirante stepped up his level, applied pressure and waited for Novak to make mistakes. He secured the crucial break and then served out the match comfortably to complete the comeback.
Novak’s next tournament will be the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, which takes place from August 30 to September 13, 2026.
It will be Novak’s 20th appearance at the US Open. He has lifted the trophy four times in New York – in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
Last year, Novak reached the semifinals, where he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz.
Photo: Profimedia
