08/15/26 05:53:00
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08/15 17:51 CDT Novak Djokovic ousted from Cincinnati Open in his first match
since Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic ousted from Cincinnati Open in his first match since Wimbledon
MASON, Ohio (AP) --- Novak Djokovic's stay at the Cincinnati Open was a short
one.
The 24-time major champion fell to Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on
Saturday in a match that took 2 hours, 44 minutes in hot and humid conditions.
A 25-year-old from Argentina, Tirante is ranked No. 50 in the world. The
39-year-old Djokovic --- a three-time Cincinnati Open champion and No. 5 in the
rankings --- was playing for the first time since his loss to top-ranked Jannik
Sinner in the semifinals at Wimbledon.
Up next for Djokovic is the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 30.
Djokovic appeared to struggle physically in the heat and had his 10-match
winning streak in Cincinnati snapped. He won the title in 2020 and 2023.
Djokovic saved 13 of the 15 break points he faced. Tirante broke Djokovic's
serve in the ninth game of the final set and then served it out.
"I think this is the best win of my career," Tirante said. "I think I really
did a good job inside the court. I managed very well the nerves of playing
against a legend like Novak."
Eala and Pegula win in women's draw
On the women's side, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines continued her run of
strong play with a victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who lost the first set and
stopped playing in the second with an ankle injury. Eala --- who is No. 20 in
the rankings --- won her first WTA singles title in Washington earlier this
month and has won eight of her last nine matches.
American Jessica Pegula beat Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2, improving her record to
25-6 on hard courts in 2026. The third-ranked Pegula won the title in
Cincinnati in 2024.
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