Djokovic Falls in US Open First Round for First Time

NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic’s historic US Open career came to a stunning halt on Sunday night as the 24-time Grand Slam champion lost in the opening round for the first time in his career, falling in five sets to Mariano Navone of Argentina. The No. 4 seed was defeated 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a grueling four-hour, 36-minute marathon at Arthur Ashe Stadium, marking his earliest exit from a Grand Slam in two decades.

The defeat, which ended just minutes before midnight, snapped Djokovic’s streak of 78 consecutive opening-round wins at Grand Slam tournaments and marked just the third first-round loss of his career at a major. It was also the longest opening match of a Grand Slam in the 39-year-old Serb’s career, coming 21 years to the day of his US Open debut.

A Body That Betrayed Him

From the opening games, it was clear that Djokovic was not himself. Barely 15 minutes into the match, he appeared to be struggling with the humidity, and by the third set he had vomited multiple times, including into the towel bin at the side of the court. He swallowed pills brought to him by a doctor, used an inhaler during a fourth-set changeover, and had his lower back massaged during a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets.

“I didn’t enjoy myself,” Djokovic said after the match, as AP News reported. “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me.”

Djokovic, who made 70 unforced errors during the match, described a recurring health condition that has plagued him throughout the year. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there,” he said. “Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”

His wife Jelena watched from the stands with a worried expression, while his 11-year-old son Stefan applauded as his father left the court in tears, waving to the crowd and making a heart shape with his hands. His 8-year-old daughter Tara covered her eyes during the emotional exit.

Navone’s Dream Come True

For Navone, the 25-year-old Argentine ranked 49th in the world, this was the biggest victory of his career — and a moment he had dreamed of since childhood. Navone, who grew up idolizing Djokovic and whose 2014 tweets supporting the Serb were uncovered by fans after the draw, played the match of his life, chasing down every ball and forcing Djokovic into bruising extended rallies.

“Novak is the GOAT in this sport,” Navone said, as the NY Post reported. “Beating him at the U.S Open, Arthur Ashe, is one of the first moment I have in tennis. When you’re a kid and you’re thinking to play tennis, the biggest stage in the tennis world is very important for you. When you have the chance to play against him, you wish and you dream to beat him in these kinds of settings because you grew up with that. So yeah, it’s a dream come true. It was a pleasure.”

Navone, who won his first ATP singles title in Bucharest earlier this year, had climbed from outside the world’s top 100 to a career-high ranking of No. 29 in 2024. His parents had not planned to attend the US Open this year, but the draw forced them to abort their Caribbean holiday and fly to New York. As The Guardian noted, nearly all of Navone’s best results had come on clay before this match, making the upset on hard courts all the more remarkable.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling right now,” Navone told reporters, as Outlook India reported. “Novak has been my idol since I was a kid. Until a few years ago, I was outside the top 100, so I didn’t even get to see him until 2023. It’s crazy, winning against Novak in 2026, on Arthur Ashe, one of the best courts I have played on.”

A Season of Struggles

The loss extends a difficult year for Djokovic, who has battled an unspecified health condition that causes vomiting and physical collapse, particularly in hot and humid conditions. After reaching the Australian Open final in January, he played little due to an injured right shoulder. He then lost in five sets to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca at the French Open, appearing barely able to stand. After a run to the Wimbledon semifinals, he lost in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open to 50th-ranked Thiago Agustin Tirante.

As USA Today reported, Djokovic’s opening-round exit was his first at a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in 2006, a tournament he would go on to win a record 10 times.

What’s Next for Djokovic?

The loss raises significant questions about the future of one of tennis’s greatest players. Djokovic has now gone three straight years without winning a Grand Slam title, with his last major victory coming at the 2023 US Open. As AP News reported, while he hasn’t openly discussed retirement, one final hurrah at the Australian Open — where he has won a record 10 times — in January would be a fitting setting for a final send-off.

“I feel when I’m healthy, I’m still able to play as a top-five player, still able to compete at the highest level,” Djokovic said after his Wimbledon semifinal loss earlier this year. But asked whether his health issue was fixable, he replied: “I don’t know. I’m trying, man. I’m trying. Let’s see.”

Djokovic is the last man still competing among the Big Three players who dominated tennis for two decades. Roger Federer retired in 2022 at age 41 due to knee issues, and Rafael Nadal retired in 2024 at age 38 due to hip problems. Federer commented on Djokovic’s situation last week: “That’s OK. He has done incredible. It’s amazing what he has been able to do and still now. I would have thought that maybe he was getting to a place where all of a sudden we would see a much bigger decline.”

A Historic Night at Flushing Meadows

The match unfolded as one of the most dramatic opening-round contests in US Open history. Djokovic cruised to early 3-0 and 4-1 leads in the first set before Navone fought back to take it in a tiebreaker. Djokovic rallied to win the second and third sets, putting his hand to his ear and gesturing to the crowd for applause. But in the fourth set, his left foot cramped and his back tightened up, and Navone seized control, taking the final two sets 6-2, 6-1.

For Navone, the victory represents a career-defining moment on the sport’s biggest stage. He will face the winner of Matteo Berrettini and Stan Wawrinka in the second round on Wednesday. For Djokovic, the future remains uncertain as he contemplates how far he can continue in a sport he has dominated for two decades.

“I’m trying to address really what’s going on and how far I can go this way,” Djokovic said after the loss.