Thiago Tirante Novak Djokovic ATP ATP Cincinnati 2026

Djokovic already knows his opponent in his return to the circuit: it will be Thiago Tirante

Carlos Navarro - 14 Aug 2026
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Thiago Tirante, Djokovic's rival in Cincinnati.

The world of tennis eagerly awaits the return to the courts of Novak Djokovic. After disappearing from the scene following his semifinal loss at Wimbledon, the Serbian recently returned to the courts while also anticipating the release of his documentary on Amazon Prime. After several days of training at the ATP Cincinnati 2026, one of the first steps in his comeback is to find out who his first opponent will be.

It will be someone to take very seriously, on an upward trajectory and showcasing perhaps the best tennis of his career in recent months. It is Thiago Tirante, currently ranked #65 in the world, who triumphed in his debut on American soil against Briton Jan Choinski in a grueling match defined in three hours and three tiebreaks (7-6(9), 6-7(7), 7-6(4)), during which he did not lose a single point after going down 1-4 in the final tiebreak.

Thiago Tirante, a rival to watch out for: these are his great weapons

The Argentine, one of the best from his generation at the junior level, took time to establish himself at the ATP level, but is currently experiencing a sweet moment. He has left the Challenger circuit behind and is riding one of the best performances of his career, reaching the round of 16 at ATP Montreal 2026 after notching a victory against a top-10 player (Fritz) and a former champion (Popyrin). His forehand is one of the most powerful on the circuit, and he has notably improved his serve, becoming a significant bombarder without being excessively tall.

Thus, it will be a first significant test for Djokovic, who is changing his approach to the US Open compared to 2025. Last year, Nole did not play any tournaments before Flushing Meadows and ended up losing clearly in the semifinals to Carlos Alcaraz; this season, with the uncertainties surrounding the Murcian and a Jannik Sinner dealing with injuries, the Belgrade player will try to gain rhythm and acclimate to the US heat in an event where he has fond memories. Will he succeed? We are definitely eager to find out.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic ya conoce su rival en su vuelta al circuito: será Thiago Tirante