Novak Djokovic suffered an embarrassing defeat against Thiago Agustin Tirante in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. Djokovic started well by winning the first set 6-2; however, his physical level dropped significantly in the brutal conditions, and after an 18-minute game in the second set. He lost the following two sets 4-6 to crash out of the tournament. Djokovic hadn't played since the Wimbledon semifinal, where he lost to Jannik Sinner, and he must have wanted to play a couple more games at Cincinnati Open to prepare well for the US Open.
Djokovic's fitness levels have been a cause of concern. At 38, the dip is normal, but the frequent defeats to lower-ranked opponents are a cause of concern. Sports journalist Benoit Maylin, who is a renowned voice in the tennis circuit, highlighted Djokovic's physical limitations and asked why he is putting himself in such situations. The US Open is going to be played in similar conditions, and doubts have now risen about Novak's chances of making a deep run in the tournament.
"But why put himself through this? At 39 years old, Novak Djokovic is still playing well, but the physical side… Cincinnati's stifling humidity burned him out. The 18-minute game in the 2nd set scorched him. Tirante's forehand scattered him to the winds, 2h44 of suffering, and a defeat that confirms he's getting older," Benoit Maylin wrote of Novak Djokovic's performance in a post on X.
After the defeat, Novak Djokovic addressed his health and said that the physical problems have now bothered him for years.
“First and foremost, I congratulate my opponent," Novak Djokovic said after the defeat. "Honestly, it wasn’t a pleasant match for me. That’s how I felt. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. That’s just how it is. The conditions aren’t the problem."
"It’s simply a health issue that has bothered me for several years. It causes me a lot of problems, especially when it’s hot and humid. I knew these conditions would work against me, but there are other things too: nerves and everything else that comes with a match like this. All of that makes the situation even worse, and that’s what happened," he added.
Faham Uddin is a seasoned sports journalist currently working as a Special Correspondent on the sports desk. With over eight years of diverse experien… View More