Britain’s Arthur Fery secured victory over Australia’s Jack Duckworth at the Cincinnati Open, winning 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 34 minutes. The match marked Fery’s competitive return following his unexpected Wimbledon performance, where he reached the semi-finals despite entering as a 114th-ranked wildcard. That run elevated him to a career-high world ranking of 36. The 24-year-old has taken time away from competition since Wimbledon, including a training block at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. Seeded 32nd at Cincinnati, Fery will face fifth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur in the next round as he prepares for the US Open later in the month.
In other Cincinnati results, fellow British player Cameron Norrie was eliminated, falling 6-3 3-6 3-6 to top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany. Novak Djokovic experienced a significant upset, losing 2-6 6-4 6-4 to Argentina’s Thiago Tirante, ranked 50th in the world. The match was marked by difficult conditions, with Djokovic struggling against the heat and humidity. The 39-year-old, currently ranked fifth in the world, called a medical timeout during the second set and required on-court assistance from medical staff.
Djokovic attributed his performance struggles to an underlying health condition that he said has troubled him over the past couple of years, particularly when conditions are hot and humid. This loss represents a notable result, as Djokovic had previously never failed to reach at least the round of 32 at Cincinnati since his debut in the tournament in 2005. Tirante described the victory as the best win of his career, acknowledging the pressure of competing against such an accomplished opponent.
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