Novak Djokovic suffered one of the biggest early defeats of his Grand Slam career after losing to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open on Monday.
The 39-year-old Serbian, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and four-time US Open winner, was beaten 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Navone in a dramatic match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The contest lasted four hours and 36 minutes, making it the longest first-round Grand Slam match of Djokovic’s career.
The defeat ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. More importantly, it marked his first loss in the opening round of a major since the 2006 Australian Open, ending a remarkable two-decade record.
Djokovic appeared to struggle physically for much of the match. He was seen vomiting several times and needed medical attention after the fourth set. He also appeared to be dealing with fitness problems as the match progressed.
Despite his difficulties, Djokovic showed his trademark fighting spirit. After losing the opening set, he recovered to win the second and third sets and briefly looked capable of completing another comeback.
Navone, however, refused to let the opportunity slip away. The 25-year-old Argentine raised his level in the fourth set and broke Djokovic’s rhythm. He won the fourth set 6-2 before taking control of the deciding set.
Djokovic found himself trailing 1-4 in the fifth set and struggled to respond as Navone continued to attack. The Serbian became emotional during the final stages, with the physical strain clearly visible.
Navone’s victory is one of the biggest wins of his career. The Argentine had never previously faced Djokovic, making the result even more significant.
For Djokovic, the early exit adds to a difficult period in 2026. He reached the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this summer but has struggled to maintain consistency in recent tournaments. His US Open campaign was expected to offer another chance to challenge for a major title, but his physical problems proved costly.
The result also changes the landscape of the men’s draw. Djokovic’s departure removes one of the tournament’s biggest names from the competition and opens the way for other contenders to make a deeper run.
Navone now moves into the second round with a major confidence boost, while Djokovic will have to assess his fitness and future plans after one of the most difficult Grand Slam defeats of his career.
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