Djokovic feels the heat in Cincinnati opening defeat

CINCINNATI: Novak Djokovic struggled in the second set against Argentine Thiago Tirante on Saturday due to extreme heat and humidity, ultimately losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in what could be his final appearance at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. The two-hour and 15-minute match marked Djokovic's first since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals over a month ago.

Despite claiming the first set, Djokovic's efforts were hampered by the harsh conditions, with the 39-year-old Serb frequently showing signs of discomfort throughout the match. Djokovic took a medical timeout after the brutal third game of the second set, with both players cooling off in the locker room before the deciding set. In a pivotal moment, Tirante converted a crucial break point to clinch the match.

Djokovic acknowledged that the weather might have affected his final match in Cincinnati, stating, "It looks like I won't be back, unfortunately to play here." Seventh seed Flavio Cobolli claimed the runner-up position, defeating Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, while Martin Landaluce and Matteo Arnaldi secured their spots in the next round after their respective matches.

In the WTA draw, Alexandra Eala advanced to the third round after defeating injured Elena-Gabriela Ruse during a weather delay. Eala will next face ninth seed Amanda Anisimova, while Maja Chwalinska and Anna Kalinskaya continued their winning streaks against their respective opponents.