In a stunning turn of events at the 2026 U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis legend and No. 5 seed, was eliminated in the first round by Argentina's Mariano Navone. This defeat, which took place on Sunday in Flushing, New York, marks Djokovic's first first-round exit at a Grand Slam tournament since the 2006 Australian Open, ending a remarkable streak of 78 consecutive first-round victories in major tournaments.
The match, which lasted an exhausting 4 hours and 36 minutes, saw Djokovic visibly struggle with his physical condition, experiencing vomiting and cramping throughout the contest. After the match, Djokovic revealed the toll his fitness issues have taken on him this season. "It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there," he explained to reporters. "Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain."
Despite holding a slight edge in aces, with a total of 10 compared to Navone's 9, Djokovic's performance was marred by a staggering 70 unforced errors. He converted only 4 of his 12 break point opportunities, while Navone was more effective, converting 6 of 17 break points. The match concluded with scores of 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in favor of Navone, who is currently ranked No. 49 in the ATP Tour singles rankings.
Navone's victory not only signifies a personal milestone for the 25-year-old but also highlights the unpredictable nature of the sport, especially in Grand Slam events. He is set to face either No. 43 Matteo Berrettini of Italy or No. 127 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in the second round, as he looks to build on this significant upset.
For Djokovic, this loss is particularly disappointing given his illustrious career and the high expectations surrounding him. The 39-year-old star expressed his frustration post-match, stating, "I didn’t enjoy myself. I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me." He did not confirm whether he would participate in the upcoming 2027 Australian Open, leaving fans and analysts to speculate about his future in the sport.
As Djokovic exits the tournament, other top players continue to advance. No. 8 Daniil Medvedev was the highest-ranked men's player to progress on Sunday, alongside No. 19 Jiri Lehecka, No. 16 Alexander Bublik, and No. 21 Tommy Paul. On the women's side, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 9 Elina Svitolina, No. 11 Marta Kostyuk, No. 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova, and No. 21 Jasmine Paolini all secured their spots in the next round.
First-round coverage of the U.S. Open will continue on Monday at 11:30 a.m. EDT, as fans eagerly await to see how the tournament unfolds without one of its biggest stars.
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