Novak Djokovic has suffered a shock second-round exit at the Cincinnati Open after battling severe heat in a three-set defeat by Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 2-6 6-4 6-4 in his first competitive appearance since a semi-final loss at Wimbledon.
He visibly struggled with the oppressive humidity in Ohio and appeared to vomit during the gruelling encounter.
The former world number one even dropped to his hands and knees during a physically sapping contest that lasted two hours and 45 minutes.
Gruelling conditions take their toll
The Serbian veteran secured the opening set comfortably but began to physically fade as the match progressed.
He was forced to call for a medical timeout after surviving an exhausting 18-minute hold of serve in the second set.
Tirante eventually secured the decisive break at 4-4 in the deciding set before serving out the biggest victory of his career.
This is the best win of my career. I really did a good job inside the court.
The Argentine now faces Spain’s Martin Landaluce in the third round.
I managed very well the nerves of playing against a legend like Novak. Now I feel relieved.
Boulter exits women’s draw
In the women’s tournament, British number two Katie Boulter was eliminated following a straight-sets defeat to Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
The Czech player hit 10 aces and broke serve four times to secure a routine 6-3 6-3 victory.
Boulter had previously ended a five-match losing streak on the WTA Tour with an opening-round win against America’s Katie Volynets.
World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the upcoming Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing right knee injury as he shifts his focus towards the US Open.
The 24-year-old was scheduled to defend the title he claimed in 2024 but has been forced to pull out following clear medical advice.
“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” Sinner said in a statement.
“My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet.”
Race to be fit for Flushing Meadows
The reigning Wimbledon champion has not featured competitively since securing his fifth Grand Slam crown at the All England Club.
He recently missed last week’s Masters 1000 event in Toronto while attempting to manage the bothersome physical issue.
“I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati… I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open,” he added.
Key rivals also sidelined
The main draw for the final Grand Slam of the year begins in New York on 30 August.
The Italian star will be aiming to reclaim the major title he relinquished to Carlos Alcaraz during last year’s final.
However, the second-ranked Spaniard is also missing from the Cincinnati draw as he continues his own recovery from a lingering wrist injury.
Both elite players now face a tense race against time to prove their absolute fitness before the hard-court major commences.
Unseeded Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor has produced a stunning upset by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev at the Canadian Open.
The 28-year-old delivered a career-defining performance to eliminate the tournament favourite in a thrilling ATP Masters 1000 encounter.
Zverev arrived at the prestigious hard-court event expecting to challenge for the title but ultimately struggled to find his rhythm against a highly determined opponent.
A landmark victory for the Dutchman
This remarkable triumph marks one of the most significant victories of the Haarlem native’s professional tennis career.
He consistently neutralised the powerful serving of his German rival while executing aggressive baseline winners of his own to dictate play.
The unexpected early exit serves as a major setback for the current world number four as he finalises his preparations for the upcoming US Open.
Tournament bracket opens up
With the primary contender now eliminated, the remaining players in the draw will sense a genuine opportunity to claim the coveted trophy.
Griekspoor advances to the next round with immense confidence and momentum.
The unseeded giant-killer will undoubtedly be viewed as a highly dangerous threat by all of his future opponents in the tournament.
World number two Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the upcoming Cincinnati Open in Ohio as he continues to recover from a persistent wrist injury.
The 23-year-old has been sidelined since April after initially pulling out of the Barcelona Open.
This prolonged absence previously forced the Spanish star to miss Wimbledon and the opportunity to defend his French Open crown.
He was scheduled to make his competitive return at the Ohio tournament, which begins on 11 August.
US Open preparations suffer major setback
Having won the Cincinnati title in 2025, the world number two planned to use the hard-court event to prepare for his upcoming US Open defence.
However, tournament organisers confirmed that the lingering physical issue will keep the Spaniard out of action.
This latest withdrawal raises serious doubts about his match fitness ahead of the season’s final major in New York, which commences on 30 August.
Organisers wish Alcaraz a swift recovery
Tournament director Bob Moran expressed his disappointment but emphasised that the player’s long-term health remains the priority.
“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” said Moran.
“We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future.”
Alexandra Eala has made history as the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles title after defeating world number three Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-0 in the Washington Open final.
The 21-year-old completed a remarkable comeback on Monday following severe weather delays that had suspended play overnight.
Resuming the match trailing by a set but leading 2-1 in the second, the left-hander proceeded to win 10 of the next 13 games.
She claimed the final nine games in succession, dropping just eight points in a completely dominant deciding set.
A formidable path to a maiden trophy
The world number 28 navigated an extraordinarily difficult draw to secure her breakthrough victory on the American hard courts.
Her spectacular run included victories over reigning Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
Defending Washington champion Leylah Fernandez and two-time grand slam semi-finalist Elina Svitolina also fell victim to the rising star earlier in the tournament.
This monumental win extends her impressive streak to five consecutive victories against top-10 opponents, a run featuring recent triumphs over Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
Pegula praises ‘amazing’ opponent
Despite playing on home soil, top seed Pegula could not halt the relentless momentum of her younger opponent after the restart.
The American had been chasing a third crown at this event, having previously lifted the trophy in 2019 and 2021.
“I want to congratulate Alex on an amazing tournament,” Pegula said during the trophy presentation.
“To see how far you’ve come over the last couple of years when we first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every place you go, it’s not fun to play against but I think it’s amazing.”
Rankings boost follows historic milestone
Supported by a highly vocal and passionate crowd, the newly crowned champion expressed immense gratitude following the match.
“I feel so much love. My first chance at a title knowing it won’t be the last and already having achieved this milestone for my career,” Eala reflected.
“I knew whatever happened after this match would have already been a win for me.”
The landmark triumph will now propel the breakout talent to a career-high ranking of world number 20 when the updated WTA standings are released.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the upcoming US Open on medical advice as she continues to recover from a stress fracture in her lower right leg.
The world number 49 will miss her second consecutive Grand Slam tournament, having also pulled out of Wimbledon on the eve of the event earlier this summer.
The former champion has not played a competitive match since finishing as runner-up at the Queen’s Club almost two months ago.
Injury frustrations continue for British number one
It has been five years since the 23-year-old made history at Flushing Meadows by becoming the first and only qualifier to win a major title.
However, the national star will not be present in New York to mark the half-decade anniversary of her spectacular triumph.
Since withdrawing from her home tournament, the historic Grand Slam winner has been photographed wearing a protective boot on her right leg.
Despite sharing recent footage of modified practice sessions – including hitting tennis balls while seated – medical professionals have advised against competing.
A severely disrupted season
This latest physical setback continues a heavily disrupted 2026 campaign for the talented baseline player.
She previously missed over two months of competition between March and May following a debilitating post-viral illness.
Furthermore, a severe bone bruising injury in her foot entirely wrecked her pre-season preparations.
Her prolonged recovery means she has also been omitted from the Great Britain squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen this September.
Raducanu’s initial diagnosis
The stress fracture originally forced her late withdrawal just hours before her scheduled first-round match at the All England Club.
Announcing her decision at the time, the despondent athlete expressed her profound disappointment to her supporters.
I’ve done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I’ve been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I’ve been medically advised to stop pushing through.
Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement.
Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala has defeated four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the Washington Open final and set up a title clash with Jessica Pegula.
The 21-year-old swept past Japan’s former world number one 6-4 6-2 as she continues her impressive quest for a maiden WTA Tour title.
Having begun the year outside the top 50, the recent Wimbledon standout is now guaranteed to rise to a career-high ranking of 24th in the world.
Pegula prepares for ‘future of the tour’
World number three Jessica Pegula awaits in Sunday’s showpiece after recovering from a 5-2 first-set deficit to overcome Russia’s Diana Shnaider 7-5 6-4.
The American top seed anticipates a difficult match, famously describing her upcoming opponent as “the future of the tour” ahead of their weekend encounter.
The pair previously met during last year’s Miami Open semi-finals, where the hometown favourite narrowly prevailed in a tightly contested three-set battle.
Improved service game proves decisive
However, the Southeast Asian prospect has significantly improved her overall game since that defeat, particularly regarding her clinical service statistics.
She claimed an outstanding 71% of first-serve points during her masterclass against Osaka while dropping merely four points on her second serve.
“I’m more well-rounded now, I’m physically a little bit better,” Eala said.
“I played really well, had a great mentality and stayed locked in until the end.”
Fritz faces Jodar in men’s final
In the men’s tournament, American third seed Taylor Fritz powered past compatriot Brandon Nakashima 6-3 3-6 6-3 after firing 13 aces.
The world number 10 will face emerging Spanish talent Rafael Jodar for the prestigious championship title.
Jodar secured his place in the final with a hard-fought 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-4 victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
The Spanish sensation started the calendar year ranked 165th globally but will officially break into the top 20 following this remarkable tournament run.
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has had her four-year ban for refusing a doping test upheld following the release of an independent tribunal report into the incident at her Prague home.
The independent tribunal released its full written findings on Friday regarding the confrontation, which took place late on a December evening.
The 27-year-old was originally suspended in June after denying a doping control officer entry into her apartment to conduct a mandatory anti-doping sample collection.
While the panel described the situation as deeply unfortunate, they concluded that the player offered no compelling justification for a shorter suspension.
An 8pm visit and panicked texts
The controversy began when the doping officer arrived at the Czech player’s flat at 8pm, prompting her to completely deny entry via the building’s intercom.
Alone in her apartment, the former world number six immediately called her agent to query standard anti-doping protocols.
The tribunal’s report revealed she also sent a text message to her boyfriend, using an expletive to describe the arriving official.
Both parties agree that a face-to-face meeting occurred approximately 10 minutes later when the 2023 women’s singles winner went outside to walk her Italian Greyhound.
It was during this dog walk that she explicitly reiterated her refusal to provide a sample and signed an official form acknowledging her stance.
Safety fears and Kvitova comparisons
A central part of the defence relied on safety concerns, with the player claiming she felt terrified when the officer approached her door without properly identifying themselves.
Her legal team cited the horrific 2016 knife attack on fellow tennis professional Petra Kvitova, who was severely injured by an intruder at her home.
However, the panel dismissed this mitigation entirely, stating that drawing direct comparisons to the Kvitova incident was heavily exaggerated.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency, tasked with overseeing a clean sport, argued they had little option but to pursue the maximum penalty for evasion.
This is a very unfortunate manner in which the player made a decision in the heat of the moment to refuse doping control, in a state of stress and anxiety, with significant consequences.
Independent Tribunal Report
Prior to this lengthy suspension, the talented left-hander had enjoyed a stellar career, capturing an Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and reaching the 2019 French Open final.