US Open 2026: In a tough first-round match on Sunday, Novak Djokovic lost 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 against unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone, ending his most recent attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam championship. This was his earliest exit at the US Open.
The 39-year-old, who vomited during the match and struggled to serve towards the end due to a back issue, was in tears shortly before Navone sealed victory.
Novak Djokovic Loses US Open 2026 First Round
Is this how it ends for Novak Djokovic 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Sw32EoGSta
— Brett Hoffman (@BrettHoffmanjr) August 31, 2026
It marked the first time the Serb had lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in 2006. Navone revelled in the biggest win of his career and was stunned to have beaten a player he considers the greatest of all time (GOAT).
“Five sets, against the GOAT, it’s not something you do every day. I’m very happy,” Navone said on court.
“It means a lot to me. It’s a dream come true. Now I have to recover. It’s almost 12 a.m. We have to go to sleep.”
Novak Djokovic’s Poor Run in The United States Continued
Djokovic had arrived for his 20th appearance at the Grand Slam with questions over his form and fitness after losing to Thiago Agustin Tirante in his Cincinnati opener two weeks ago.
He raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set in humid conditions but Navone pulled level at 4-4 after a short delay during which the roof of the main showcourt was closed as rain fell at Flushing Meadows.
With the fourth seed still looking uncomfortable, world number 49 Navone forced a tiebreak and claimed the set to draw loud cheers and gasps from the crowd.
Mariano Navone Beats Novak Djokovic in Final Set
Djokovic, a four-times champion in New York, dug deep to take the second set, and after vomiting into a courtside bin during the third set he looked to have recovered, breaking 25-year-old Navone for a 5-4 lead before closing out the set despite a shaky game on serve.
But Navone responded by claiming the fourth set as Djokovic’s serve deserted him towards the end due to a back issue, and the Argentine held his nerve in the decider to complete a famous win in four hours and 36 minutes.
(With Agency Inputs)
Pragun is a passionate cricket follower and writer who deeply loves the game. Having completed his education with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has an experience of almost two years in diverse fields. He is known for his statistical and analytical articles. Pragun tries to bring life to his articles by adding a layer of enthusiasm from the perspective of a hardcore fan. Apart from writing cricket articles, he sometimes appears on YouTube videos on a friend’s podcast.
