Djokovic Fails to Overcome Heat, Exits Cincinnati Open in Second Round

Novak Djokovic (ranked 5th, Serbia) suffered a shock defeat in the second round of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour Cincinnati Open.

Djokovic lost 2-1 (6-2 4-6 4-6) to world No. 50 Thiago Tirante (Argentina) in the men's singles second round on the fourth day of the tournament held in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

The 39-year-old Djokovic had never finished outside the round of 32 in this tournament since his debut in 2005, but suffered an early exit for the first time.

Djokovic stepped back onto the competitive court for the first time since losing to Jannik Sinner (ranked 1st, Italy) in the Wimbledon semifinals last July.

The veteran Djokovic struggled in the scorching weather, with daytime highs reaching 32°C (90°F) and humidity levels around 70%.

During the third game of the second set, which lasted 18 minutes, he even showed symptoms of vomiting twice and ultimately requested a medical timeout.

"There are health issues that have bothered me over the past few years. Several issues arise, especially when it is humid and hot," Djokovic said. "I expected it to be humid, but various factors like tension compounded to make the situation worse. That is what happened today."

Djokovic, a three-time champion at the Cincinnati Open, hinted that this might have been his final appearance.

"I hope to play here again, but unfortunately, it looks more likely that I won't. Let's see what the future holds," he said.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.