Novak Djokovic was defeated by Thiago Agustín Tirante of Argentina in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open on Friday. Djokovic lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, with Tirante registering what is described as the biggest win of his career.
The 39-year-old tennis player reportedly struggled with the Ohioan humidity from the second set onwards, spending time between points trying to catch his breath. He called for medical attention while leading 6-2, 2-1, where he vomited into a towel and had his blood pressure checked. Djokovic stated that the conditions and his health issues, which have bothered him for a couple of years, made it "not an enjoyable match for me."
Djokovic, who reached the final at Roland Garros and the semi-final of Wimbledon last month, has not reached the quarter-finals in any of his three non-Grand Slam tournaments this season. He has a 2-3 record across his appearances at Indian Wells, Rome, and Cincinnati.
After the match, Djokovic explained his struggles with humidity, noting that tension and pressure of matchplay exacerbated his condition. When asked about returning to Cincinnati, he responded, "I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately."