Novak Djokovic was seen struggling on the tennis court as he suffered a shock second-round defeat at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The tennis legend fell 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante in sweltering heat and humidity.
The 39-year-old Serbian, seeded third and playing his first match since a Wimbledon semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner in July, dominated the opening set. However, he began to show clear signs of distress early in the second.
Watch: Novak Djokovic physically struggles as he exits Cincinnati in second round
During a gruelling 18-minute service game that featured nine deuces, Djokovic dropped to his hands and knees on court. At the subsequent changeover, he appeared to vomit into a towel before calling for a medical timeout. Physiotherapists and a doctor treated the 24-time Grand Slam champion, checking his condition and applying ice as he sat shirtless on his chair. The incident went viral on the internet as it has caused concern among the fans.
Both players retreated to the locker rooms after the second set. Djokovic returned for the decider looking somewhat recovered but was broken at 4-4 and could not recover as the world No. 50 Tirante closed out the biggest win of his career. Speaking afterwards, Djokovic attributed his difficulties to a long-standing health condition that is particularly aggravated by heat and humidity.
The three-time Cincinnati champion, who held a strong record at the event, later indicated he may not return to the tournament. Attention now turns to the US Open, which begins on 30 August, where Djokovic will aim to recover and challenge for a 25th major title. Meanwhile, Tirante is all set to face Martin Landaluce of Spain in the Round of 32.
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