Tirante Stuns Ailing Djokovic, Serb Reveals Health Struggle

A match that turned on a medical timeout

In one of the most dramatic scenes at the Cincinnati Open 2026, Thiago Agustín Tirante eliminated Novak Djokovic in straight sets after the first — winning 6-4, 6-4 after dropping the opening set 2-6 — in a second-round match that stretched to two hours and 45 minutes. Saturday's humid Ohio afternoon turned rapidly against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who appeared to vomit during a changeover midway through the second set and was forced to take a medical timeout before play could resume.

Djokovic had been imperious in the opener, breaking Tirante twice to cruise 6-2. The Argentine, ranked No. 50 and one of the most improved players of the year, refused to be rattled. He converted the momentum from a gruelling 18-minute third game — during which Djokovic saved four break points across nine deuces — and ultimately broke to lead in the second set, never looking back. He then sealed the third with a break at 4-4, closing out with his fifth match point.

Djokovic's candid admission

Speaking to reporters after the defeat — his first competitive match since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final on 10 July — Djokovic was unusually forthcoming about an underlying problem. "It's just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years," he said. "A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that's what happened."

When asked whether he expected to return to Cincinnati in future years, the Serb's answer was sobering: "I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately." The remark prompted immediate speculation about whether his Cincinnati chapter — where he has won the title three times — may be closing.

Statistically, the loss was a rare blemish. Since 2005, Djokovic had won 355 of 368 Masters 1000 matches in which he claimed the first set, a success rate of 96.5 per cent. Tirante became only the 14th player to topple him in those circumstances, joining an elite list that includes Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.

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Tirante: "Best win of my career"

The 25-year-old from Buenos Aires was composed throughout. He entered Cincinnati having beaten Taylor Fritz in Montreal just a week earlier — his second top-10 scalp of 2026 — and now adds Djokovic to a rapidly growing list of big-name victims. "This is the best win of my career. I really did a good job inside the court," Tirante said. "Keep believing in myself with my team — that's what made the difference."

It was also Tirante's third top-10 victory of 2026, underlining a sharp ascent up the rankings. He will face a third-round test on Tuesday against a player who has not yet been beaten this week at the Cincinnati Open.

What comes next

For Djokovic, the immediate concern is preparation for the US Open, which begins in New York on 26 August. He has now entered the hard-court swing without competitive match practice, having only the Cincinnati loss to draw on since Wimbledon. His physical state heading into Flushing Meadows will be the dominant narrative of the next ten days. Tirante, meanwhile, advances into the third round and carries very real belief that his Cincinnati run is far from over.