Thiago Agustín Tirante has pulled off the biggest win of his career, stunning Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Open.
The 25-year-old Argentine looked in trouble after Djokovic comfortably took the opening set, but Tirante stayed in the match and turned things around.
Djokovic began struggling with the heat and humidity early in the second set and needed medical attention after that. Tirante remained composed and eventually broke the Serbian at 4-4 in the deciding set before serving out the biggest victory of his career.
For Tirante, beating Djokovic was clearly an emotional moment. The Argentine had never faced the 24-time Grand Slam champion before, and he struggled to hide his disbelief after the match.
“He is the GOAT of tennis. You say tennis and immediately Novak comes to mind.”
Tirante also spoke about what the victory meant to him and the people supporting him from Argentina.
“I’m thinking about my family and my friends who are in Argentina right now. They are in Argentina, but they are in my heart as well.”
The victory is Tirante’s fourth win against a Top-10 player and puts him into the third round in Cincinnati, where he will face Spain’s Martín Landaluce.
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