Novak Djokovic experienced his earliest exit from a Grand Slam in two decades, falling in the first round of the US Open to unseeded world No. 49 Mariano Navone. The 39-year-old Serbian cited a recurring health condition that has plagued him throughout the year as a significant factor in his physical breakdown during the five-hour, 37-minute match.
This marks Djokovic's first opening-round defeat at a major tournament since the 2006 Australian Open. The marathon encounter against Navone, a gritty clay-court specialist, saw Djokovic struggle from the outset. He appeared visibly distressed at times, including being close to tears in the fifth set as he trailed 3-1. The match was the longest first-round contest of his career.
Djokovic admitted after the match that he "despised" his time on court, attributing his physical collapse to an unnamed issue he has been managing. "It is something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year," he stated, referencing a condition he first mentioned after his defeat at the Cincinnati Open. He described experiencing "vomiting, throwing up, serious issue there, and then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain, and the back just gave up in the end, and shoulder, and I couldn't close it out."
Djokovic vomited multiple times during the third set at Flushing Meadows, despite which he managed to hold serve and win the set. Earlier in the match, he was seen using an ice bag and at times clutching his temples, appearing affected by the humid New York evening. He also received tablets from a tournament physio and took on fluids from his team as he grappled with his fitness.
Navone's strategic play, focusing on extending rallies, pushed Djokovic to his physical limits. After winning the first set in a tiebreak, Djokovic appeared to regain some form, winning the second and third sets. However, he faltered in the fourth set, which Navone took to force a decider. Prior to the fifth set, Djokovic underwent a medical timeout for his lower back, but he was unable to overcome his physical complaints.
The loss will likely impact Djokovic's ranking, potentially dropping him out of the top 10 for the first time since 2018. His performance raises questions about his ability to compete at the highest level moving forward. His wife, Jelena, was seen looking distressed in the stands during the challenging match.
Djokovic had previously revealed that in recent years he has struggled more with heat and developed a health condition affecting him for the past couple of years, which he has been trying to manage. Despite considering retirement during the match, winning the second and third sets had temporarily pushed that possibility aside.
