Twenty-four time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic suffered a shocking defeat at the Cincinnati Open, dropping his first match since Wimbledon to world number 50 Thiago Agustin Tirante. The Serbian, who won the Cincinnati title the last time he played in 2023, took the first set before going down 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to the Argentinian.
Djokovic’s US Open Prep Hits a Snag
This loss is a massive upset, no doubt about it. Djokovic, at 39 years old, really seemed to struggle with the humid conditions in Ohio. We know the man is a legend, but going out early like this, especially after taking the first set, has to be a big blow to his US Open preparations. Tirante was absolutely buzzing after the match, calling it the “best win of my career.” He nailed it when he said he “managed very well the nerves of playing against a legend like Novak.” You can’t ask for a better moment than that if you’re the world number 50, can you? This wasn’t some minor stumble; it was a straight-up upset that has everyone talking about what it means for the upcoming major.
Fery Continues His Meteoric Ascent
Meanwhile, Arthur Fery is still riding that incredible wave. The 24-year-old beat James Duckworth 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) in his first match since that memorable run to the Wimbledon semi-finals. Fery’s rise has been absolutely wild, jumping from outside the top 150 at the start of the grass-court season to world number 36. He was 114th going into Wimbledon as a wild card, and now he’s seeded 32nd at only his second Masters 1000 event. The man is on a mission! He broke Duckworth in the very first game, but a couple of foot faults cost him in the next. Still, Fery snatched a second break with a sick backhand passing shot for 5-4 and took the first set. Duckworth, the world number 86, fought back hard in the second, winning the first three games and breaking Fery again at 5-2 to level it up. The third set was tense, Fery couldn’t convert the only break point, but he sealed it by winning four straight points in the tie break. What a battle, and what a win for Fery.
In other Cincinnati action, Britain’s Katie Boulter was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
What’s next for Fery? He’s set to face another Australian, the fifth seed Alex De Minaur, in the next round. That’s going to be a huge test for him. As for Djokovic, this early exit definitely puts a spotlight on his form heading into the US Open. Everyone will be watching to see how he bounces back from this one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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