Thiago Agustin Tirante has already enjoyed a breakthrough season, but the Argentine has earned an opportunity to add another unforgettable chapter when he takes on Novak Djokovic at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday.
On Thursday, Tirante battled for two hours, 56 minutes to defeat Jan Choinski in the first round at the ATP Masters 1000 event, rallying from 1-4 down in the deciding set before reeling off seven consecutive points from 1/4 down in the deciding tie-break. When the Argentine sealed the win, he fell to his knees, then lay on his back and turned toward his team in relief.
His reward? A second-round meeting with Djokovic — the three-time Cincinnati champion — on one of the biggest stages.
“When I was young, I watched Djokovic on TV,” Tirante told ATPTour.com in Cincinnati. “I was always more [of a] Rafa supporter. But Novak is Novak. He is a very important person for the world and one of the most [key figures] for tennis. We are probably going to play on centre court in Cincinnati, so it is important that I won my first-round match.”
Tirante has built his success around his physicality, heavy baseline game and ability to absorb pressure from the back of the court. Those qualities will be put to the ultimate test against Djokovic, who is making his first appearance since reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month.
To trouble the 24-time major champion, Tirante will need to maintain his intensity, take his chances when they come and find ways to prevent Djokovic from dictating the exchanges. The 25-year-old knows the magnitude of the occasion, but he is determined not to let it overwhelm him.
“Novak’s achievements are very important,” Tirante said to the media in Cincinnati Thursday. “He is the GOAT of tennis. You say tennis and Novak is there… For me it is very special. I practised with everyone. I practised with Roger, I practised with Rafa but I never practised with Novak.
“So to play against a legend like him is going to be very fun. I will try to enjoy it. Because sometimes it is not easy to enjoy and see what happens outside the court, outside of the match. So I will try my best and enjoy the match.”
It will not be the first Top-10 opponent Tirante has faced during this North American hard-court swing. Just 10 days ago, the 25-year-old defeated in-form Washington champion Taylor Fritz in the second round in Montreal to secure his second Top-10 win of the year, having also defeated Ben Shelton on clay in Houston.
Although clay is his favoured surface, Tirante is proving that he can thrive on multiple surfaces and is enjoying a breakthrough season. The 25-year-old began 2026 outside the Top 100 and had never won more than six tour-level matches in a season. Now, he owns a 23-13 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, highlighted by runs to the fourth round at Masters 1000 events in Rome and Montreal, the third round in Madrid and the semi-finals in Houston.
“My current form gives me a lot of confidence,” Tirante, who is at a career-high No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings, said. “I’m going to enjoy that match. But at the same time, I’m going to try my best to win that match. I think I am playing very good tennis. I am improving so much physically and mentally. Let’s see what happens.”
The first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between Tirante and Djokovic is scheduled as the second match on P&G Stadium Court from 11 a.m. local time. View the full Cincinnati schedule here.
© Copyright 1994 - 2026 ATP Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc.. Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Community Social Media Policy | Modern Slavery Statement | Feedback | Cookies | Your Privacy Choices 
