A Shocking Exit at Flushing Meadows
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and No. 4 seed, was eliminated from the US Open in the first round on Sunday night, falling to Argentina's Mariano Navone 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a five-set marathon that lasted four hours and 36 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The defeat marked Djokovic's earliest exit in a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open and his first-ever first-round loss at the US Open. It also ended a streak of 78 consecutive first-round wins at major tournaments, a run that had stood since his loss to Paul Goldstein in Melbourne two decades ago.
The match was a physical ordeal for Djokovic, who vomited at least once, appeared to cramp, grabbed at his left foot, and required a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets. He took pills from a doctor and had his lower back massaged. His wife, Jelena, watched from the stands with a worried expression. The loss came 21 years to the day after his US Open debut, prompting questions about whether this could be his final appearance at a major.
Despite the physical struggles, Djokovic showed flashes of his old self, taking the second and third sets after dropping the opening frame. But Navone, a 25-year-old who won his first ATP singles title earlier this year, refused to fade. He seized control in the fourth set and closed out the match with a dominant fifth, securing his first five-set victory.
Djokovic made 70 unforced errors, a painfully high number for a player of his caliber. His first-serve percentage dropped to 45 percent in the fourth set, according to some reports, reflecting the toll the conditions and his illness took on him.
Navone's Dream Comes True
For Navone, currently ranked No. 49 in the world, the win was a landmark moment. On Arthur Ashe Stadium, he called it a "dream come true." He showed remarkable composure against one of the greatest players in tennis history, refusing to let Djokovic's comeback derail his challenge.
"An awful feeling on the court for me," Djokovic said afterward. "It's something that I've been carrying unfortunately pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. And then my whole body, you know, starts to collapse."
A Season of Struggles
The loss capped a difficult season for Djokovic, who did not win a major in 2026, marking the second straight year without a Grand Slam title. He had only three seasons without a major since 2011 (2017, 2025, 2026). He arrived in New York with minimal preparation, having exited early in Cincinnati.
The 39-year-old, who was chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, also needed to reach the final to surpass Jimmy Connors' record of 98 US Open match wins, but that quest ended after just one match.
Navone now advances to the second round, while Djokovic's future in the sport remains uncertain. The question of whether this was his final match at this or any Grand Slam lingers.