Novak Djokovic, with 24 Grand Slam titles, is often regarded as one of the greatest tennis players. However, his quest for continued success on the court faced a major hurdle during the U.S. Open on Sunday night. The accomplished Serbian player was unexpectedly defeated in the first round of the 2026 tournament. He lost in straight sets to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, scoring 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Djokovic, 39, struggled with 10 double faults and committed 70 unforced errors, leading to his defeat. Afterward, he revealed he was dealing with several health issues. “Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there,” Djokovic explained. He went on to describe how his whole body would collapse with cramps and pain. The situation culminated in his back and shoulder giving out, preventing him from closing the match.
The first-round loss at the U.S. Open marked a first for Djokovic, who entered the competition as the fourth seed, having won the tournament three times before. Despite his efforts to regain momentum in the match, Djokovic couldn’t secure victory against Navone.
According to Djokovic, “I struggled since the fourth game.” He expressed the lack of enjoyment during the match due to his physical condition and expressed discontent with his performance.
Mariano Navone, who idolized Djokovic growing up, found the win was emotionally mixed. He described competing against “the GOAT” as both challenging and rewarding. Navone said, “For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court. This is an amazing court and the biggest stage.” He celebrated the victory but acknowledged the depth of playing five sets against his tennis hero.
Navone, 25, achieved his first career ATP tournament victory earlier this year in Romania. The win against Djokovic marked a significant milestone in his career.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leave a Reply