Thiago Tirante's comeback fuels Cincinnati Masters shock
In the bright afternoon at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, 25‑year‑old Argentine Thiago Tirante erased a 2‑6 first‑set loss to Novak Djokovic, turning the match around 6‑4, 6‑4 to clinch a spot in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 round of 16, a triumph he called the most important of his career.
Thiago, ranked No. 50 in the ATP, dismantled the world No. 5 and record Grand Slam winner Djokovic in three sets. After dropping the opening set 2‑6, the Argentine surged back with consecutive 6‑4 wins, securing his first appearance in the Masters 1000’s last‑16.
A stunning comeback at Cincinnati
Emotion ran high as Tirante sat on the bench, covering his face with a towel while cameras rolled. He later summed the moment: “Es el triunfo más importante de mi carrera”. The 25‑year‑old from Platense had earlier posted “vamos Argentina” with a heart on his Instagram, underscoring his national pride.
Reflecting on the match, Tirante told the official broadcast, “Creo que hice un buen trabajo en la cancha. Fue muy especial. Fue mi primera vez enfrentando a Novak y jugar en un torneo grande como este… Estoy muy feliz”. He noted the pressure of playing on the centre court against a legend.
Next round opponent
Spanish teenager Martín Landaluce awaits Tirante in the forthcoming round, setting up a new challenge after the Argentine’s breakthrough.
Season highlights and ranking
Although Tirante has yet to capture an ATP title, 2025 has seen him reach the quarter‑finals of the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro, the semi‑finals of the ATP 250 in Houston, and the quarter‑finals of the ATP 250 in Bastad, all on clay. He finished the year outside the Top 100 before this Masters surge.
He credited his team’s mental support, saying, “La confianza que me dan… estamos haciendo un gran trabajo a nivel mental, me están ayudando muchísimo, y creo que es la llave en lo que va de este año”. Tirante added that listening to his team point‑by‑point has improved his game, reinforcing the belief that perseverance and self‑confidence were key to his victory.