Novak Djokovic hints at Cincinnati exit after opening defeat to Tirante

Novak Djokovic said he may have played his last match at the Cincinnati Masters after losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Argentine Thiago Tirante in the second round on Saturday. The 39-year-old Serb, a 24-time Grand Slam champion who won his third Cincinnati title in 2023, struggled in punishing heat and humidity, taking a medical timeout during the second set and bending over in distress between points. Sportstar reports Djokovic admitted: 'It looks like I won't be back, unfortunately to play here.'

Djokovic, playing his first match since losing the Wimbledon semifinal to Jannik Sinner over a month ago, won the opening set comfortably before the conditions took their toll. Tirante clinched the biggest win of his career on a drop-shot error from Djokovic on match point. Djokovic will now regroup ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 30.

Top-seeded Alexander Zverev, the French Open champion, beat Cameron Norrie 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match that ended at 2:15 am. Zverev, the 2021 Cincinnati champion, said he lacked confidence after an early exit in Canada last week but found his rhythm in the final two sets.