Novak Djokovic has broken his silence on a health condition he has been “dealing with for many years” after losing the Cincinnati Open.
For those unaware, the 39-year-old professional Serbian tennis player fell to his hands and knees, asking for a medical timeout in the middle of the second set at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday, August 15, which he ended up losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante.
The video circulating on social media showed Djokovic falling to his knees and throwing up in a towel before sitting on a bench. He can be seen taking his shirt off and putting an ice pack on his head in the presence of a doctor and physiotherapist.
According to ATP Tour and Forbes, he told reporters afterwards, “First and foremost, I congratulate my opponent today. Honestly, it hasn’t been a pleasant match for me. That’s how I’ve felt. It hasn’t been the first time, and it won’t be the last. That’s just how it is.”
Notably, it was an extremely hot and humid day in Ohio; however, the weather “conditions aren’t the problem” for Djokovic.
He shared, “It’s because of a health issue I have. I’ve been dealing with it for many years now. It causes me a lot of problems, especially when there’s a lot of humidity and heat.”
“I did anticipate it [would be humid], but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened,” Djokovic stated.
It is pertinent to note that Novak Djokovic will probably not participate in the 2027 Cincinnati Open, as he said, “It seems more likely that I won’t be back next year. But let’s see what the future holds. I hope I do.”
