Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Djokovic Falls to Navone in Shocking US Open First-Round Exit
Novak Djokovic lost his first match at the US Open to Mariano Navone.
Navone is an unseeded tennis player from Argentina.
The match lasted four hours and 36 minutes and had five sets.
Djokovic won the second and third sets after losing the first.
However, Navone won the fourth set and played strongly in the final set.
Djokovic had physical problems, including vomiting and a back issue.
He became tearful as the loss became certain.
The defeat ended his attempt to win a 25th major championship.
Unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The four-hour, 36-minute loss ended Djokovic’s bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
It was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2006 Australian Open and only his third opening-round major loss.
Djokovic reportedly vomited during the match, struggled with a back issue and became emotional before the finish.
World No. 49 Navone called defeating Djokovic, whom he considers the greatest of all time, a “dream come true.”
- Who
- Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, an unseeded Argentine ranked No. 49 in the world.
- What
- Navone defeated Djokovic in five sets in the US Open first round.
- When
- Reports place the match on Sunday, while one account describes the elimination as occurring on Monday.
- Where
- The US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, United States.
- Why
- Navone recovered after losing the second and third sets, while Djokovic struggled physically and could not respond in the final two sets.
- Result
- Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
- Match duration
- Four hours and 36 minutes.
- Djokovic’s age
- 39 years old, according to the reports.
- Tournament impact
- The loss ended Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
- Record milestone
- It was Djokovic’s first opening-round Grand Slam loss since the 2006 Australian Open.
- Navone’s ranking
- Navone was identified as the world No. 49 and was unseeded.
- Physical issues
- Djokovic reportedly vomited during the match and struggled with a back issue and his serve late in the contest.
