Djokovic struggles with heat in Cincinnati as Wimbledon hero Fery returns

Novak Djokovic takes a medical timeout after a gruelling 18-minute hold before losing 2-6 6-4 6-4; Cameron Norrie falls to Alexander Zverev, while British No 1 Arthur Fery wins and Katie Boulter exits; watch the Cincinnati Open live on Sky

Novak Djokovic suffered defeat and struggled physically in his first match since Wimbledon as he was upset by Thiago Agustin Tirante in a sapping three-set contest at the Cincinnati Open.

Djokovic, inactive on the ATP Tour since losing to Jannik Sinner at the grass-court Grand Slam on July 10, won the first set 6-2 but then lost the next two 6-4 as he battled the heat and humidity in Ohio, even appearing to vomit at one stage.

The 24-time major champion won an 18-minute third game of the second set, fending off four break points over nine deuces, before taking a medical timeout, while he dropped to his hands and knees at certain points in a match that lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

Tirante, who can look forward to a third-round meeting with Spain's Martin Landaluce, made the decisive break at 4-4 in the decider after converting his fourth break point of the game and then closed out the win on serve.

He said afterwards: "This is the best win of my career. 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.

"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. Keep believing in myself with my team and think about it after the match."

Djokovic was the third seed in Cincinnati despite sitting fifth in the world rankings, with world No 1 Sinner withdrawing due to a knee injury and world No 3 Carlos Alcaraz also absent as he continues to deal with a lingering wrist issue.

Elsewhere, in a rain-delayed match that finished at 2:15am local time on Sunday, top seed Alexander Zverev rallied to avoid a third straight defeat, beating Cameron Norrie 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Zverev, the French Open champion, had returned to action in Montreal after losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, but suffered a first-round defeat by Tallon Griekspoor.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery advanced with a hard-fought 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 victory over James Duckworth.

British No 2 Katie Boulter saw her campaign end in the second round with a 6-3 6-3 defeat to Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova .

Noskova, who served 10 aces compared to Boulter's none, converted four of the nine break points she fashioned and was only broken once in return.

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