NEW YORK: Argentina’s Mariano Navone beat Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open first round, handing the Serbian his earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades.
The scores were 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1, and Navone described the contest as a four-hour, five-set match. Djokovic committed 70 unforced errors and struggled physically during the match.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion vomited during play, later showed signs of cramping and received medical treatment between the fourth and fifth sets, including medication and treatment to his lower back.
Mariano Navone defeats 24-time Grand Slam Champion Novak Djokovic in five sets. pic.twitter.com/BE8Dn3qC8j
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2026Navone described the victory as the biggest moment of his career and said facing Djokovic on the U.S. Open stage had been especially difficult because of the Serbian’s status in the sport.
Djokovic led 3-0 and then 4-1 in the opening set before losing it in a tiebreak.
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The defeat is Djokovic’s earliest exit from a major since the 2006 Australian Open, and he says the result will also knock him out of the ATP Top 10 for the first time since July 2018.
