NEW YORK NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Mariano Navone of Argentina during their Men's Singles First Round lucifer connected Day One of the 2026 US Open astatine USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center connected August 30, 2026 successful the Flushing vicinity of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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Novak Djokovic looked distressed from the opening of his first-round lucifer pinch Mariano Navone astatine the U.S. Open.
The usually passionate Serb did not prosecute the crowd for overmuch of the lucifer and threw up aggregate times connected tribunal while battling tummy discomfort. During Sunday’s match, he besides utilized an inhaler and took tablets aft saying pursuing his first-round nonaccomplishment in Cincinnati he’s been “dealing pinch [a wellness issue] for galore years now.”
In the end, the 24-time awesome champion and No. 4 seed mislaid an agonizing 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 lucifer successful 4 hours, 36 minutes to Navone, a plucky Argentine who doesn’t ain a azygous ATP Tour-level title and is classed No. 49 successful the world. The nonaccomplishment came pinch the tile successful Arthur Ashe Stadium closed owed to rain.
The 39-year-old Djokovic hadn’t mislaid successful the first information of a awesome since early successful his career, successful 2006. His woman Jelena and children Stefan and Tara were connected manus to witnesser this historical loss.
The conclusion came 21 years to the time that he made his U.S. Open debut against Gael Monfils connected Aug. 30, 2005.
He waived to the crowd, gave the bosom awesome and signed autographs earlier losing the court.
“I deliberation it really turns retired amended for him because it shows he’s human,” John McEnroe said connected ESPN. “It gives you an moreover greater consciousness of really astonishing his accomplishments were.”
The past clip that nary of “The Big 3” of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were successful the 2nd week of a awesome was 2003 Roland Garros, per ESPN.
For Navone, who grew up idolizing Djokovic, it was the triumph of his life.
“This is [an] astonishing tribunal connected the biggest stage,” he said connected court. “It’s astonishing the measurement we played, I mean 5 sets against the GOAT is thing to each day. I’m very happy, what tin I say.”
He added: “Novak intends a batch for me..It was very reliable for maine because you’re playing pinch the GOAT connected this tribunal present and he is present each time successful this tribunal erstwhile he plays the U.S. Open. This intends a lot, it’s a dream travel true. It’s surely 100%. Now I person to recover, I deliberation it’s almost 12 o’clock, we person to spell to sleep.”
NEW YORK NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Mariano Navone of Argentina returns against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their Men's Singles First Round lucifer connected Day One of the 2026 US Open astatine USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center connected August 30, 2026 successful the Flushing vicinity of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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Djokovic is simply a 10-time U.S. Open finalist, having mislaid six of the 10. His past awesome triumph came successful New York successful 2023, but he’s still bidding for a grounds 25th awesome title 3 years later.
In the decisive 5th set, Djokovic fell down 0-40 while serving astatine 0-1. Navone yet collapsed for 2-0 erstwhile the Serb couldn’t get to a passing changeable aft approaching the net.
After holding for 1-3, the crowd roared for Djokovic, who appeared to beryllium connected the brink of tears while managing his beingness and affectional condition.
NEW YORK NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Novak Djokovic of Serbia looks connected against Mariano Navone of Argentina during their Men's Singles First Round lucifer connected Day One of the 2026 US Open astatine USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center connected August 30, 2026 successful the Flushing vicinity of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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After starring 4-2 successful the first set, Djokovic yet mislaid it successful a tiebreak.
In the 2nd set, Navone held service for 5-4 pinch a 100-mph ace. But a wished Djokovic past collapsed the shaky Argentine astatine emotion for a 6-5 and held service a emotion to moreover the lucifer astatine 1 group all.
“And now al of a sudden, he’s starting to look for illustration Novak Djokovic," John McEnroe said connected air.
McEnroe pointed retired that Djokovic was not utilizing the crowd to his advantage.
“Almost nary nickname of the crowd truthful far, isolated from erstwhile he walked out,” he said.
In the 3rd set, Djokovic was shown throwing up successful the towel bin, triggering “Boot and rally” jokes from James Blake and the ESPN crew.
Still, he didn’t look a break constituent connected his service each group and collapsed for 5-4 erstwhile Navone netted a forehand connected break point. At that point, Djokovic yet put his manus to his receptor to occurrence up the crowd.
He closed retired the service connected his group for 6-4.
Djokovic was shown throwing up yet again early successful the 4th set.
Midway done the fourth, Djokovic looked successful much discomfort arsenic he faced imaginable cramping. He many times tried to agelong retired his legs and backmost connected court.
“This is not overmuch nosy for him coming astatine all,” Chris Fowler said connected ESPN.
Navone collapsed Djokovic for 4-2 successful the 4th erstwhile the Serb sailed a forehand wide.
It’s unclear what’s up for Djokovic, who hit world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to scope the Australian Open last earlier this twelvemonth and made the semis of each 4 fields past year.
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