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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
For his return to the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, Novak Djokovic hoped to find his bearings before the US Open. There would be no second round. The Serb was eliminated on Saturday in his opening match, beaten by Argentine Thiago Tirante, the world No. 50, in three sets (6-2, 4-6, 6-4). A defeat that further thins out a men's draw already deprived of its two main headliners.
A misleading first set
Novak Djokovic was playing his first official match since Wimbledon, where his run had ended in the semifinals.
Novak Djokovic was playing his first official match since Wimbledon, where his run had ended in the semifinals. He had not played this Ohio tournament since his title in 2023, and this long-awaited return was short-lived. The start, however, hinted at the best: the Serb took the first set 6-2 with authority, backed by a reliable serve and impeccable court coverage. Then the machine stalled. Visibly worn down physically, he retreated in long rallies and let the Argentine set his rhythm from the baseline. Tirante, sharp on the forehand and solid on his serve, never wavered: two sets won 6-4, 6-4, and the world No. 50 advances to the next round, securing the biggest victory of his career along the way.
A draw decimated by withdrawals
This elimination adds to two significant pullouts. Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, had withdrawn at the start of the month, bothered by a painful right knee. Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, also pulled out due to injury, raising questions about his presence at the US Open. Within a week, the tournament has lost its three biggest attractions. Attention now shifts to Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, promoted to favorites in a draw no one imagined so open. For players seeking points and confidence before the final Grand Slam of the season, the opportunity is real, and outsiders can legitimately dream of a deep run.
A aborted dress rehearsal
Cincinnati traditionally holds a special place in the calendar: as the last major event before the US Open, the tournament serves as a dress rehearsal on American hard courts. Djokovic has triumphed there before, and his last appearance was indeed his 2023 title. This missed opportunity deprives him of valuable benchmarking two weeks before the New York Grand Slam. For a player accustomed to building momentum over the summer swing, leaving without a single win is an anomaly, and his fitness becomes the main unknown of his end of season.
US Open in sight
This defeat raises a simple question: in what condition will Djokovic approach the US Open, which begins on August 30? Without bearings on American hard courts, without a win since his return, he will arrive in New York with diminished confidence. Both his body and his tennis will be scrutinized, while the competition has already banked matches. For his part, Tirante gains sudden exposure and a place in the next round, proof that no draw is written in advance. The tournament, meanwhile, continues without its crowned heads, and the path seems clear for a fortnight full of surprises. It remains to be seen whether the Serb, accustomed to spectacular comebacks, can turn things around by the New York Grand Slam.
