Novak Djokovic loses to Thiago Tirante in Cincinnati Masters opener

Argentinian powers to 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory Heat and humidity take toll on Djokovic The scoreboard did not yet indicate that anything was awry, but even as Novak Djokovic led by a set in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open, he was already struggling badly. From the second set onwards, he spent much of his time between points squatting and bending over as he desperately tried to catch his breath in the notorious Ohioan humidity. He was eventually dispatched 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Thiago Agustín Tirante of Argentina, who took this golden opportunity to register the biggest win of his career. Continue reading...

Novak Djokovic struggles with the heat and humidity as he falls to a shock defeat by Argentina's Thiago Tirante in the second round of the Cincinnati Open.

Novak Djokovic struggles with the heat and humidity as he falls to a shock defeat by Argentina's Thiago Tirante in the second round of the Cincinnati Open.

Novak Djokovic suffered in the second set from punishing heat and humidity on Saturday but made a match of it before falling 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Argentine Thiago Tirante in what could be the Serb's last appearance at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. Martin Landaluce beat Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach a third-round clash against Tirante.

Novak Djokovic was overcome by the heat and humidity at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Saturday, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner falling in his opening match to Argentine Thiago Tirante.The South American advanced to the third round with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who hit the wall in the second set but recovered to make a battle of it in the third before bowing out.

Novak Djokovic suffered defeat and struggled physically in his first match since Wimbledon as he was upset by Thiago Agustin Tirante in a sapping three-set contest at the Cincinnati Open.