Djokovic exits Cincinnati Open amid health concerns as Fery advances
Arthur Fery continues his remarkable rise with a victory over Jack Duckworth, while Novak Djokovic falls to Thiago Tirante in a match disrupted by medical issues.
Novak Djokovic’s campaign at the Cincinnati Open concluded with a defeat to Argentina’s Thiago Tirante, ending the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s streak of reaching at least the last 32 of the tournament since its inception in 2005. Djokovic, ranked fifth in the world, lost 2-6 6-4 6-4 to the 50th-ranked South American after struggling with the venue’s heat and humidity.
The match was marked by significant physical distress for the Serbian. During the second set, Djokovic dropped to his hands and knees and required a medical timeout. He appeared to vomit twice during the contest, prompting on-court assistance from a physiotherapist and a doctor. Both players retreated to the dressing rooms following the conclusion of the second set.
Following the match, Djokovic attributed his performance issues to an underlying health condition that has affected him for several years. He stated that the condition causes significant issues, particularly in hot and humid conditions. “It was not an enjoyable match for me, for sure,” Djokovic said. “The way I felt. Not the first and I guess not the last time, but it is what it is.”
In a separate result on the same card, Britain’s Arthur Fery secured a victory in his first match since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals. Fery defeated Australia’s Jack Duckworth 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 34 minutes. The win marks a significant step in Fery’s career, having jumped to a career-high ranking of 36 following his surprise run to the last four at Wimbledon, where he became the lowest-ranked player to reach that stage since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
Fery, who was seeded 32nd in Cincinnati, will face Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur in the next round. Meanwhile, fellow British player Cameron Norrie was eliminated from the tournament, losing 6-3 3-6 3-6 to Germany’s top seed Alexander Zverev. Tirante described his victory over the former champion as the best win of his career, noting the pressure of playing against a legend.
