Djokovic loses comeback match in Cincinnati, cites physical issues

Physical struggles on court

The defeat marks Djokovic's first tour-level match back since Wimbledon and continues a difficult stretch for the veteran. The loss to Tirante, an Argentine clay-court specialist, will cost Djokovic ranking points and raises immediate questions about his form heading into the North American hard-court swing.

Djokovic was also asked about the possibility of returning to play in Ohio later this season, where he would turn 40. "Ich hoffe sehr, dass ich es tun werde, aber im Moment scheint es leider wahrscheinlicher, dass ich es nicht tun werde," he said, casting doubt on whether he would compete again in the state this year.

Doubt over return to Ohio

The Cincinnati Open is one of the key hard-court warm-up events ahead of the US Open, and the result will be closely watched by fans and analysts tracking the form of the sport's biggest names. Djokovic's next scheduled tournament has not been confirmed in the available reporting.

Argentine Thiago Tirante, who entered the Cincinnati draw as a sizeable underdog, took advantage of Djokovic's evident discomfort to complete a three-set upset. Tirante's ability to close out the match in straight sets after winning the first suggests Djokovic's physical issues prevented any sustained comeback in the decider.

Tirante takes advantage

Reporting on the match noted that Djokovic vomited during play and required brief courtside attention, an unusual scene at an ATP 1000 event. His movement and serve speeds dropped noticeably in the third set as the Argentine grew in confidence."The conditions in Cincinnati were a recurring theme in Djokovic's post-match remarks, with the player explicitly citing humidity as a factor he had expected to face. He added that nerves compounded the difficulty, a notable admission for a player of his experience on the biggest stages."

Tournament organisers in Cincinnati have not announced any update on Djokovic's status for the rest of the hard-court season beyond the Cincinnati event. His team did not immediately detail whether the physical issue would require medical assessment or affect his preparation for upcoming events.

The match drew significant attention given Djokovic's stature in the sport and the unusual circumstances of his return. Coverage noted the contrast between his preparation and the flat performance on court, particularly in the closing set.