Djokovic struggles with heat and vomits before shock Cincinnati Open loss to Thiago Tirante

Novak Djokovic was beaten by Thiago Tirante at the Cincinnati Open on August 16, 2026, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 after visibly struggling with heat and humidity and appearing to vomit during the match. The 39-year-old required treatment from a doctor and a physiotherapist as play progressed and ultimately exited in the second round.

Djokovic was playing his first match since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Jannik Sinner in July and entered Cincinnati as the third seed despite being fifth in the world rankings. Top-ranked Jannik Sinner was absent because of a knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz missed the tournament with a wrist problem. The loss ended Djokovic’s long-standing Cincinnati run of always reaching at least the last 32 since his debut at the event in 2005.

Match play began in Djokovic’s favour as he took the opening set 6-2, but the conditions worsened for him in the second set and beyond. The Serbian endured an 18-minute third game in which he saved four break points over nine deuces, and shortly after that sequence he appeared to vomit on court. He was also seen dropping to his hands and knees during the contest.

Medical staff attended to Djokovic after the second set, with both a physiotherapist and a doctor treating him before the players left for their locker rooms. When play resumed Djokovic continued to compete but was unable to regain his usual level, allowing Tirante to convert the decisive break at 4-4 in the third set and serve out the victory.

The match lasted two hours and 45 minutes and handed Tirante the biggest win of his career to date; the 50th-ranked Argentine kept his composure against Djokovic to secure the upset. "This is the best win of my career," Tirante said. "I managed the nerves of playing a legend like Novak. It was all so much pressure." He added: "It is all so much pressure when you cannot break. I had so many points to break and I couldn't, so that was the key. Keep believing in myself with my team."

A tweet quoted Djokovic as saying, "My body hasn't responded so well after a Grand Slam in years" and another post from Tennis TV noted Tirante unleashed the fastest forehand of the 2026 Masters season. Djokovic also commented, "I was not trying to do anything out of the ordinary. I tried to take my chances, with a little bit of randomness, and I am happy," adding, "There were several moments, a couple against Alireza, against Nihal as well. There were certainly some moments, but I am thrilled to go undefeated."

Tirante will face Spain's Martin Landaluce in the third round.