Djokovic Cries, Vomits in Shocking US Open First-Round Loss to Navone

Novak Djokovic's US Open 2026 campaign ended in the first round on Tuesday, as Argentina's unseeded Mariano Navone stunned the 24-time Grand Slam champion in a five-set match that saw Djokovic break down in tears and vomit on court.

Navone won 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, handing Djokovic his first US Open first-round exit in 20 years. It was the third time in his career that Djokovic has been eliminated in the opening round of a Grand Slam, according to reports.

Djokovic, who has been battling injury issues, appeared visibly struggling throughout the match. Footage showed the veteran star vomiting on the court, and he broke down in tears mid-match, reportedly unable to keep up with Navone's intensity.

Speaking after the match, Navone expressed his disbelief at defeating his childhood idol. "It's an unbelievable feeling right now," Navone told JioHotstar. "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. I am here with my mom, my dad, my whole team, and my family in Argentina; we will be going crazy for sure as well."

Navone, who fought back after losing two consecutive sets, explained his approach: "I played very well in the first set, I was up 5-0, and then I made three mistakes. Against Novak, if you are even a little short, you are dead. Then, in the fourth set, my intensity was higher than his. When you are on the court, you want to win and you want to fight, and in the fourth set, in terms of physicality, I was slightly better. In the fifth set, he was injured a little bit as well. Best wishes to him as he recovers, but this is the best day of my life."

Navone's second-round match is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, and will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network and the JioHotstar app and website. Djokovic is expected to experience a significant drop in the rankings as a result of this defeat.