Queens, NY — Novak Djokovic’s latest U.S. Open campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion Sunday night as the 39-year-old Serbian battled through illness, physical problems and mounting frustration before falling to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a grueling five-set encounter.
Navone prevailed 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 after four hours and 36 minutes, handing Djokovic his earliest Grand Slam exit in nearly two decades and ending a remarkable U.S. Open streak.
The defeat came exactly 21 years after Djokovic made his U.S. Open debut. He had never previously lost in the opening round at Flushing Meadows.
“I didn’t enjoy myself,” Djokovic said afterward. “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me.”
For Djokovic, the result raised an even bigger question: Was this his final U.S. Open, or perhaps his final Grand Slam appearance altogether?
Physical Problems Take Their Toll
Djokovic looked uncomfortable for much of the night despite jumping out to early leads of 3-0 and 4-1.
The No. 4 seed struggled physically as the match progressed. He vomited during the contest and later appeared to deal with cramping and pain in his left foot.
During a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, Djokovic took medication and received treatment to his lower back. He also appeared to be dealing with discomfort in his shoulder.
The physical issues were part of a larger problem Djokovic acknowledged has followed him throughout the season.
“It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there,” he said. “Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.”
Djokovic said his back eventually became too much to overcome.
“The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out,” he said.
Djokovic Couldn’t Maintain His Early Advantage
Despite his struggles, Djokovic showed flashes of the brilliance that has produced a record 24 Grand Slam singles championships.
He appeared to have recovered after dropping the opening set, winning the second and then taking the third to move within one set of victory.
His reactions told the story. After taking the second set, Djokovic delivered a restrained fist pump. Following the third, he gestured toward the crowd, encouraging the fans to make more noise.
But Navone refused to back down.
The 25-year-old Argentine continued attacking and eventually turned the match completely around, winning the fourth set 6-2 before dominating the deciding set 6-1.
Djokovic committed 70 unforced errors, an unusually high number for a player renowned for his consistency and defensive ability.
Navone Embraces the Moment
Navone entered the match as the younger, less experienced player, but he never appeared overwhelmed by the occasion.
The Argentine, who won his first ATP singles title earlier this year, produced the biggest victory of his career against a player he grew up admiring.
“(It) was very tough for me because you are playing with the ‘GOAT’ on this court,” Navone said.
“For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court. This is an amazing court and the biggest stage.”
The victory also gave Navone his first five-set win.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “I don’t know. What can I say?”
A Troubling Stretch for Djokovic
The loss continues a difficult stretch for Djokovic.
Earlier this month, he was eliminated in the opening round of the Cincinnati tournament, his first competition since reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, where he lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic had hoped the additional preparation time following his Cincinnati defeat would help him arrive at the U.S. Open ready to make another deep run.
Instead, his concerns about the difficulty of starting tournaments in recent years resurfaced in dramatic fashion.
Djokovic acknowledged Saturday that getting through the opening match has become increasingly challenging.
This time, he couldn’t find a way through.
An Uncertain Future
The significance of the defeat goes beyond the scoreboard.
Djokovic’s age, physical struggles and increasingly difficult starts to major tournaments have created legitimate questions about how much longer he can continue competing at the highest level.
After Sunday’s loss, Djokovic indicated that he needs to determine whether his body can continue handling the demands of five-set Grand Slam tennis.
He said he is “trying to address really what’s going on and how far I can go this way.”
For more than two decades, Djokovic has been one of the defining figures in tennis. His U.S. Open record, 24 major championships and longevity have established him among the sport’s all-time greats.
But on Sunday night, the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium witnessed something rarely seen from Djokovic: a first-round Grand Slam defeat.
And as Navone celebrated the biggest win of his career, Djokovic was left facing perhaps the most uncertain chapter of his legendary career.
