The sweltering heat of Ohio has put an end to Novak Djokovic’s Cincinnati run, but losing the match is just one part of the story. The Serb has now revealed that an underlying health issue, which gets worse during humid conditions, was the real factor behind his untimely demise from Cincinnati.
On Saturday, Novak Djokovic made his first hard court appearance after his Wimbledon defeat last month. The Serb, however, lost to the young Argentinian Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in his opening round.
After the match, according to Sport Klub, the Serb revealed that he has been dealing with a health issue for the last few years, and admitted that it becomes too difficult to cope with when humidity rises to 80%.
“No, it’s simply a health problem that I have. It’s been bothering me for the last few years. I have a lot of problems, especially when there’s a lot of humidity and heat.”
Midway through the match, Djokovic called for a medical timeout and was also seen vomiting on his towel. The Serb appeared groggy throughout the match, and after two hours and 44 minutes, fell to Tirante in three sets.
After the match, the Serb also congratulated the No. 50-ranked Tirante:
“I congratulate my opponent. Honestly, this was not a pleasant match for me at all. That’s how I felt. It’s not the first time, I guess it won’t be the last, but what’s there is.”
Novak Djokovic Unsure About a 2027 Cincinnati Run
After a startling loss in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open, Novak Djokovic revealed that another run in Ohio next year might not be ideal for his health.
Djokovic talked about his health struggles, but then cast doubt on whether he would come back to Cincinnati next year.
“I certainly hope I will, but unfortunately, at this point, it seems more likely that I won’t. We’ll see what the future holds, though.”
Despite the Serb expressing uncertainty for another Cincinnati run, it remains to be seen if the former world No. 1 can overcome his health struggles to make a promising run at the US Open.
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