Novak Djokovic suffers unprecedented US Open first round exit

Novak Djokovic grinded by means of bodily and inside illnesses, made one mistake after one other and couldn’t discover what it took to beat a feisty, youthful opponent who was not intimidated underneath the lights in opposition to tennis’ most adorned participant.

The 39-year-old is out of the U.S. Open after a first-round defeat to Mariano Navone on Sunday evening (August 30, 2026), shedding 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a five-set marathon that lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes. It was the longest opening match of a Grand Slam in Djokovic’s profession and have become his earliest exit in a single in 20 years, relationship to the 2006 Australian Open. He had by no means misplaced within the first spherical on the U.S. Open.

With this defeat, 21 years to the day of his U.S. Open debut, the query now lingers as as to whether this was Djokovic’s closing match at this or any Grand Slam.

Djokovic made 70 unforced errors in a painful efficiency that ended mere minutes earlier than midnight.

“(It) was very robust for me since you are enjoying with the GOAT’ on this court docket,” mentioned Navone, who idolised Djokovic rising up. “For positive it is one of the best factor I’ve had on court docket. That is an incredible court docket and the largest stage. It is superb, the way in which we play. I imply, 5 units. … I am very glad. I do not know. What can I say?”

The file holder with 24 main titles threw up not less than as soon as and later seemed to be cramping when he grabbed at his left foot. Djokovic swallowed drugs dropped at him by a physician and had his decrease again massaged throughout a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth units, and he grimaced after a number of pictures.

All through his time on court docket, it was clear Djokovic was not himself, and the damage and tear of illness and soreness took its toll. The No. 4 seed from Serbia cruised to early 3-0 and 4-1 leads earlier than blowing them and shedding the primary set — the primary time that occurred to him within the first spherical of the U.S. Open since ’06.

Along with his spouse, Jelena, watching from the stands with nervous seems to be on her face, Djokovic had moments the place he appeared like top-of-the-line to play the game. His fist pump was reserved after profitable the second set, and he put his hand to his ear and gestured to the group for applause on the way in which to taking the third.

However Navone — a 25-year-old from Argentina who earlier this yr gained his first ATP singles title — didn’t go away.

Neither did the frustration of not being wholesome or at his greatest. After firing a shot large within the fourth set, Djokovic landed awkwardly and dropped his racket.

Djokovic all however conceded the fourth set. However he was unable to muster sufficient for the what would have been his forty third five-set victory as Navone picked up his first.

“It is unbelievable,” Navone mentioned. “This implies lots. It is a dream come true.” It prolonged a nightmare stretch for Djokovic, who additionally misplaced within the first spherical on the hardcourt tuneup in Cincinnati earlier this month. That was his first motion since shedding to top-ranked Jannik Sinner within the semifinals at Wimbledon.

Djokovic expressed hope Saturday that his early exit at Cincinnati gave him extra time to arrange for the U.S. Open however acknowledged concern that the primary match at any event has grow to be difficult for him in recent times. As an alternative of overcoming the hurdle and constructing from there, he’s left to ponder an unsure future