Novak Djokovic suffered a devastating first-round defeat at the 2026 US Open, losing in five sets to Argentina's Mariano Navone in what ranks as one of the biggest shocks in Grand Slam history. The fourth seed broke down in tears on Arthur Ashe Stadium after a four-hour, 36-minute battle that exposed the physical toll age is taking on the 39-year-old.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion fought back from a set down to lead by two sets to one and held a break advantage in the fourth set, only for his body to give way completely. Navone, ranked 49th in the world and in just his second US Open main draw, capitalised on Djokovic's visible distress to complete a remarkable 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
A Match of Contrasting Fortunes
Djokovic started brightly, breaking Navone's serve at the first opportunity to take a 4-1 lead in the opening set. But a lengthy rally midway through appeared to drain his energy reserves, and from that point the Serbian struggled to move freely. He began suffering from nausea, called for the trainer after the ninth game, and appeared to be battling the same health issue that sidelined him early at the Cincinnati Open two weeks ago.
The first set moved into a tiebreak, where Djokovic — visibly exhausted, bowing his head and bending over between points — could not prevent Navone from striking first after 73 minutes. An eerie hush fell across the 24,000-seat arena as the crowd registered concern for the four-time US Open champion.
Djokovic rallied in the second and third sets, seemingly aided by cooler conditions under the Arthur Ashe roof. He levelled the match by winning the second 7-5 and then broke Navone for 5-4 in the third, a position from which prime Djokovic would have closed out the set with ease. He did so this time too, winning the third 6-4, but the effort would prove catastrophic.
The Collapse
What followed was a harrowing sequence for one of tennis's greatest competitors. Djokovic vomited into a towel bin, his movement deteriorated to the point he could barely reach Navone's groundstrokes, and his serve lost all its bite. Navone won the fourth set 6-2 and raced through the decider 6-1 as Djokovic's back and shoulder seized up.
"I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me," Djokovic said in his post-match press conference, fighting back tears. "I don't want to take too much out of Mariano's win. Congrats to him, he's a nice guy and a fighter — but I didn't enjoy myself."
The Serb revealed that the physical problems have plagued him throughout the season. "It's something that I have been carrying pretty much every match this year — vomiting, throwing up. And then my whole body starts to collapse basically, cramping and pain. The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn't close it out."
Navone's Career-Defining Night
For Navone, a 25-year-old clay-court specialist from Bahía Blanca, the victory represents the biggest win of his career. The Argentine admitted the mental battle was the hardest part, particularly when he trailed two sets to one and faced a break point deficit in the fourth.
"I understood he wasn't feeling very good. So it's tough to play against him like this, because you know you have many chances to win against him," Navone said. "It's Novak. He's the GOAT. He always found the key to beat someone."
Navone's composure was striking. He created 17 break-point opportunities, converting six, and committed just 34 unforced errors to Djokovic's 70. While the circumstances were unusual, the numbers reflected a player who kept his focus when it mattered most.
The Argentine will face either Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion, or Matteo Berrettini in the second round — a far cry from the kind of opposition he typically faces at this stage of a Grand Slam.
What This Means for Djokovic
The defeat ends Djokovic's bid for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would have moved him clear of Margaret Court. It is his first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open — a span of 20 years — and his first-ever first-round exit at Flushing Meadows.
Many had sensed this could be an opportunity for Djokovic, with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner absent through injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz only just returning from a long-term wrist problem. Instead, Djokovic leaves New York with far more questions than answers about his physical capacity to compete at the highest level.
He had reached at least the semi-finals at six of the previous seven Grand Slams, including winning the 2025 Australian Open and 2025 Roland Garros. But the manner of this defeat — the vomiting, the physical collapse, the tears — paints a sobering picture of where the 39-year-old stands as he contemplates his 21st season on tour.
The question now is whether Djokovic can solve the health condition he described as a "serious issue" before the Australian Open in January, or whether the end is finally approaching for the greatest male player the sport has ever produced.
Sources
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/c39m1le9gjeo
- https://www.perfect-tennis.com/us-open-2026-day-one-recap/
- https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7550020/2026/08/31/us-open-recap-results-bracket-scores-day-1/
