The tennis world witnessed a surprising turn of events at the Cincinnati Open as Novak Djokovic the 24-time major champion faced an early exit. The Serbian star lost to Thiago Agustin Tirante a 25-year-old Argentine ranked No. 50 in the world, in a match that lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes under hot and humid conditions.

Djokovic’s defeat not only ended his 10-match winning streak in Cincinnati but also raised questions about his future participation in the tournament. The No. 5-ranked player has a 45-13 record in Cincinnati, with titles in 2018, 2026 and 2026. However, his recent struggles with a health condition that affects him in hot and humid weather have cast a shadow over his future in the event.

Djokovic’s Health Struggles and Uncertain Future in Cincinnati

Djokovic has been open about his health issues, stating that he has been dealing with a condition that makes it difficult for him to perform in hot and humid conditions. ‘It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,’ Djokovic said. ‘A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. I did anticipate it (would be humid), but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.’

The 39-year-old’s future in Cincinnati remains uncertain. When asked about his return to the tournament, Djokovic said, ‘I certainly hope so, but it looks more likely not, unfortunately. But let’s see what the future brings.’ His next challenge will be the U.S. Open which starts on Aug. 30 in New York.

Tirante’s Historic Victory and Other Notable Matches

Thiago Agustin Tirante’s victory over Djokovic is a significant milestone in his career. The Argentine player expressed his excitement, saying, ‘I think this is the best win of my career. I think I really did a good job inside the court. I managed very well the nerves of playing against a legend like Novak.’ Tirante broke Djokovic’s serve in the ninth game of the final set and served it out to secure his historic win.

In another notable match, Alexander Zverev the top-seeded player, rallied to avoid a third straight loss. Zverev beat Cameron Norrie in a rain-delayed match that ended at 2:15 a.m. Sunday. The French Open champion had previously lost to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final and to Tallon Griekspoor in his opener on Aug. 5 in Montreal.

Women’s Draw: Eala and Pegula Shine

On the women’s side, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines continued her strong form with a victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Ruse lost the first set and stopped playing in the second with an ankle injury. Eala, ranked No. 20 won her first WTA singles title in Washington earlier this month and has won eight of her last nine matches.

Jessica Pegula the third-ranked American, beat Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2, improving her record to 25-6 on hard courts in 2026. Pegula won the title in Cincinnati in 2026 and continues to be a strong contender in the tournament.