New York, August 31: The 2026 US Open began on a disappointing note for Novak Djokovic, the most successful male player in Grand Slam history.
On the tournament’s opening day, Djokovic faced a stunning upset at the hands of Mariano Navone.
With this defeat, Djokovic has been eliminated from the US Open. Navone triumphed in a grueling five-set match, winning 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. He took control in the final two sets, while Djokovic struggled physically under the closed roof.
This marks the since 2006 that the 24-time Grand Slam champion has lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam event. The four-time US Open champion did not appear to be in his best form during the match, which lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes, setting a record for the longest first-round match in any Grand Slam tournament.
Djokovic’s recent physical issues, which surfaced during his loss in Cincinnati, reappeared. He showed a lack of energy and winners throughout the match. According to the ATP Tour website, Navone expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s amazing. Playing a five-set match against the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest of All Time), I’m very happy. I don’t know what to say.”
Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, there were signs suggesting Djokovic would prevail against the Argentine player. The primary reason was that Djokovic, seeded fourth, had not lost in the first round of any Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
Even when Djokovic lost a 2-1 lead in the fourth set and the match reached a decisive fifth set, history seemed to favor him. In five-set matches, Djokovic held a record of 42-12, while Navone was 0-4. On hard courts, Navone’s record in tour-level matches stood at only 12-29.
However, the 39-year-old Djokovic could not secure a victory despite his efforts. Throughout the 4-hour and 36-minute match, the 101-time tour-level title winner struggled to move and even experienced bouts of nausea. After winning his first game in the fifth set to make the score 1-3, Djokovic became emotional as fans rallied behind him for a comeback.
In the final and decisive point of the match, Navone displayed remarkable agility. He swiftly reached Djokovic’s drop volley and sent the ball into an open court, sealing the victory. After the match, Navone approached the net to embrace Djokovic, who, despite his loss, exhibited great sportsmanship. As he left the court, Djokovic acknowledged his fans, signing autographs and expressing gratitude.
Navone reflected on facing one of his idols for the first time, saying, “It’s incredible. This means a lot to me. It feels like a dream come true, to be honest, 100 percent. Now I need to recover.” With world number one Jannik Sinner not participating due to injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returning to play his first tournament since April in Barcelona, Djokovic had a significant opportunity to win his 25th major title. However, his early exit has dashed those hopes.