Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest exit at the U.S. Open after a shock 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 loss to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone in a gruelling first-round clash on Sunday, extinguishing his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The 39-year-old Serb vomited midway through the match and was hampered by back and shoulder issues that affected his serve towards the end. It marked the first time Djokovic had lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in 2006.
Djokovic Battles Illness and Injury in Gruelling Defeat
“It was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” said Djokovic, who was in tears at the end of the match. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.”
Djokovic, a four-times champion in New York, had arrived for his 20th appearance at the Grand Slam with questions over his form and fitness after losing to Thiago Agustin Tirante in his Cincinnati opener two weeks ago. He raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set in humid conditions but Navone pulled level at 4-4 after a short delay during which the roof of the main showcourt was closed as rain fell at Flushing Meadows.
With the fourth seed still looking uncomfortable, world number 49 Navone forced a tiebreak and claimed the set to draw loud cheers and gasps from the crowd. Djokovic dug deep to take the second set, and after vomiting into a courtside bin during the third set he looked to have recovered, breaking 25-year-old Navone for a 5-4 lead before closing out the set despite a shaky game on serve.
“Yeah, the back just gave up in the end, and shoulder. I couldn’t close it out. I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match,” Djokovic added. “Again, I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congratulations to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But I didn’t enjoy myself.”
Navone Celebrates Career-Defining Victory Over the GOAT
Navone revelled in the biggest win of his career and was stunned to have beaten a player he considers the greatest of all time. “Five sets, against the GOAT, it’s not something you do every day. I’m very happy,” Navone said on court. “It means a lot to me. It’s a dream come true. Now I have to recover. It’s almost 12 a.m. We have to go to sleep.”
The Argentine responded by claiming the fourth set as Djokovic’s serve deserted him towards the end due to a back issue, and Navone held his nerve in the decider to complete a famous win in four hours and 36 minutes. He later told ESPN he was still trying to come to terms with what he had achieved.
“It’ll take a while for the adrenaline to settle down,” Navone added. “I’ve only just picked up my phone and it won’t stop ringing. I imagine there must be quite a commotion back at home.”
A Painful End to a Challenging Season
Djokovic’s defeat raises further questions about his ability to compete at the highest level as he approaches his 40th birthday. The loss is his earliest at Flushing Meadows since 2005, when he fell in the first round as an 18-year-old qualifier.
Despite his physical struggles, Djokovic refused to quit. “I didn’t want to give up in fourth or fifth,” he said when asked if the thought of retiring from the match crossed his mind. “I wanted to finish the match.”
The result leaves Djokovic still tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles, with his next opportunity to break the record coming at the Australian Open in January. For Navone, the victory is a transformative moment in a career that has seen him rise rapidly through the rankings over the past year.
Navone will now face either Thiago Monteiro or Learner Tien in the second round, while Djokovic heads home to reassess his fitness and future plans after one of the most disappointing defeats of his storied career.
