Arthur Fery Wins at Cincinnati Open as Novak Djokovic Suffers Shock Defeat
Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat to Argentina’s Thiago Tirante at the Cincinnati Open, dropping to his hands and knees during a physical collapse while Britain’s Arthur Fery secured a victory on his return against James Duckworth.
Djokovic Battles Physical Crisis in Cincinnati Exit
According to BBC Sport, the world number five fell 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to 50th-ranked Tirante after experiencing severe physical distress during the second set. Djokovic, 39, dropped to his knees and required a medical timeout following an 18-minute third game in the second set, appearing to vomit twice on the court. A physio and doctor provided on-court assistance before both players retreated to the dressing rooms. When play resumed, the Serbian dropped serve in the ninth game of the third set, allowing Tirante to close out the match.
The defeat marks a swift exit for Djokovic, who was making his first appearance since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals in July. According to tournament historical data reported by BBC Sport, Djokovic had never failed to reach at least the last 32 in Ohio since making his debut in the tournament in 2005.
Underlying Health Conditions and Environmental Stress
According to BBC Sport, he stated, “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years.” He added, “[It causes] a lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot.”
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic admitted, "It was not an enjoyable match for me, for sure. The way I felt.”
Tirante Claims Career Milestone While Fery Advances
For Tirante, the victory represents a massive career milestone. According to BBC Sport, the Argentine called the result the “best win of my career,” noting, “I managed the nerves of playing a legend like Novak. It was all so much pressure.”
Elsewhere at the tournament, Britain’s Arthur Fery successfully navigated his return to competitive play by defeating Australia’s James Duckworth.
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