24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has opened up about his health condition following his difficult second-round defeat to Thiago Agustin Tirante at the Cincinnati Open.
Djokovic started strongly, winning the opening set 6–2, but the match changed as the intense heat and humidity began to take a toll on the 39-year-old .
Tirante fought back to win the next two sets 6–4, 6–4 and completed the biggest victory of his career. Djokovic appeared increasingly uncomfortable during the match and, after a gruelling 18-minute game, took a medical timeout, receiving treatment before returning to the court.
Speaking after the match, Djokovic explained that he has been dealing with a health condition for several years and that hot and humid conditions can make it particularly difficult for him to manage.
“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.
“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years.
“[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.”
