World No. 5 Novak Djokovic has revealed he is battling an ongoing, long-term health condition following a shock second-round exit at the 2026 Cincinnati Open against Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante on Saturday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, competing in his first tournament fixture since Wimbledon, struggled heavily with extreme physical fatigue and oppressive heat in Ohio, raising major concerns ahead of the upcoming US Open.
Novak Djokovic falls to his knees during his R2 match in Cincinnati.
During the changeover, Novak appeared to be vomiting before receiving a medical timeout. #cincytennis pic.twitter.com/hHwxVQY5BB
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 15, 2026
Cincinnati Open: Match Details
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Match: Novak Djokovic vs Thiago Agustín Tirante
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Tournament & Round: Cincinnati Open 2026, Second Round
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Scoreline: Tirante won 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
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Key Incident: Medical timeout taken by Djokovic midway through the second set
Health Battle Revealed: “Bothering Me For The Past Couple Of Years”
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Djokovic disclosed the underlying physical struggle that hampered his performance:
“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,” Djokovic explained. “(It causes) a lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”
Acknowledging his opponent’s victory, Djokovic conceded: “Congrats to my opponent. It was not an enjoyable match for me, for sure. The way I felt… Not the first and I guess not the last time, but it is what it is.”
Novak Djokovic says he has a health problem that can’t be solved:
“I have a health problem that has been troubling me for the last few years. I have many problems, especially when the conditions are really hot and humid. But then there are other things — the nerves and… pic.twitter.com/u5a1F3ZbhY
— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) August 15, 2026
Shock In Ohio: How Thiago Tirante Stunned Novak Djokovic
Djokovic began the contest strongly, securing the opening set 6-2 before his physical condition deteriorated rapidly in the second set. Slumping to his hands and knees, the Serbian icon was forced to call for a medical timeout. World No. 50 Tirante capitalised on the veteran’s struggles, maintaining baseline aggression to close out a famous 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
