Tirante backs up Djokovic upset with another statement win, confirming Cincinnati breakthrough

Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante beat Spaniard Martin Landaluce 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) on Monday evening to reach the last 16 of the Cincinnati Open, proving his win over Novak Djokovic was no fluke.

Tirante, ranked No. 50, will next face the winner of the match between Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata and No. 14 seed Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic.

Players who score the biggest win of their career often stumble the following round, but Tirante brushed that trend aside in straight sets. It was his third career Masters 1000 last-16 appearance, a stage he has never gotten past, and having also beaten Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and England’s Jan Choinski 7-6 (9), 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4) to get here, he now looks well placed to change that.

Landaluce, ranked No. 67, had beaten No. 31 seed Matteo Arnaldi of Italy 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and English wild card Jack Draper 6-3, 7-5 to reach the same stage.