Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante pulled off the biggest upset of his career on Saturday, stunning No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio. The 25-year-old produced a fearless display to send the Serbian superstar crashing out of the tournament in a match that lasted two hours and 44 minutes.
Tirante, who fired 13 aces and struck 40 winners, refused to buckle despite Djokovic’s experience and relentless pressure. The Argentine capitalised on Djokovic’s struggles in the hot and humid conditions, completing a remarkable comeback after dropping the opening set. The victory also marked Tirante’s fourth win against a Top 10 player, underlining the magnitude of his breakthrough night.
Thiago Tirante Completes Stunning Novak Djokovic Upset
“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. Now I feel relieved, because it is all so much pressure when you cannot break (serve). I had so many points to break and I couldn’t, so that was the key, to keep believing in myself with my team and think about it after the match.”
Djokovic saved 13 of 15 break points but committed 40 unforced errors and seven double faults. He had 25 winners and five aces.
It was the Serbian’s first match since losing to Italy’s Jannik Sinner in last month’s Wimbledon semifinals and he had trouble dealing with the 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.”
Djokovic Opens Up About Health Issue
Djokovic, 39, said he is dealing with a health issue that affected him on the court.
“It’s just a condition that I have, health wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,” Djokovic said. “(It causes) a lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot.”
Still, Djokovic led 3-2 in the fourth set before he deteriorated further physically.
Tirante, 25, stepped up and won four of five games to complete the stunning upset and improve to 4-1 against Top 10 players.
Tirante will next face Spain’s Martin Landaluce, who beat No. 31 Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Alex de Minaur, Flavo Cobolli Advance
Also Saturday, Australia’s Alex de Minaur recovered from a shaky start to post a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Quentin Halys of France.
No. 7 Flavo Cobolli advanced with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia. No. 14 Czech Jakub Mensik outlasted Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (5).
Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo scooted past No. 15 Valentin Vacherot of Monaco 6-3, 6-3 and Australia’s Rinky Hijikata beat No. 19 Luciano Darderi of Italy 6-4, 6-2.
No. 22 Alejandro Tabilo of Chile was a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, France’s Terence Atmane recorded a 6-3, 7-6 (4) upset of Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry and No. 28 Alexander Blockx of Belgium beat Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4.
(With inputs from Reuters)
