NEW YORK — On a sweltering, humid night inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the greatest resume in tennis history ran headlong into the unforgiving reality of time.
Novak Djokovic suffered a shocking first-round exit at a Grand Slam for the first time in two decades, falling in five agonizing sets to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The marathon contest, which concluded just minutes before the stroke of midnight, lasted four hours and 36 minutes—becoming the longest opening-round match of Djokovic’s illustrious career and snapping one of the sport's most unassailable streaks.
Prior to Sunday night, the 39-year-old Serbian icon had won 78 consecutive first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments. The last time he tasted defeat in the opening round of a major was January 2006 at the Australian Open, when an 18-year-old Djokovic was dismissed by American journeyman Paul Goldstein. For twenty years, through 24 Grand Slam titles, an Olympic singles gold medal, and hundreds of grueling battles, Djokovic’s opening hurdle was guaranteed territory.
Against the relentlessly determined 25-year-old Navone, that invincible armor finally shattered under heavy humidity, acute physical distress, and a barrage of unforced errors.
A Grueling Midnight Duel
The match began under ominous signs for the fourth-seeded Djokovic. As rain showers outside forced the closure of the Arthur Ashe retractable roof, the air inside turned thick and suffocating. Navone, competing with boundless energy and fearless groundstrokes, refused to be cowed by the stature of his childhood idol.
The opening set turned into an attritional 68-minute slugfest. Djokovic struggled to find depth on his signature backhand, spraying erratic forehands wide as Navone repeatedly tested the veteran’s lateral movement. Navone edged a tense tiebreak 7-5, pumping his fist toward his corner as the New York crowd realized they were watching an upset bid in the making.
Djokovic responded with the trademark grit that defined his two decades at the top of men's tennis. Digging deep into his reserves, he clawed back control in the second set, converting a crucial break late to take it 7-5. In the third, despite looking visibly weathered and calling for an ice bag to drape over his neck at changeovers, Djokovic manufactured sublime angles and punished short balls to capture the frame 6-4, establishing a two-sets-to-one lead.
Yet, the immense physical expenditure required to take that lead proved to be the Serbian's undoing.
| Match Statistic | Mariano Navone | Novak Djokovic |
| Final Score | 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 | 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 1-6 |
| Match Duration | 4 Hours, 36 Minutes | 4 Hours, 36 Minutes |
| Aces / Double Faults | 9 / 8 | 10 / 10 |
| First-Serve % | 63% (98/155) | 55% (86/157) |
| Break Points Won | 6 of 17 (35%) | 4 of 12 (33%) |
| Total Points Won | 165 | 146 |
| Total Unforced Errors | 44 | 70 |
The Physical Collapse
The turning point came early in the fourth set. Even after securing an early break of serve, Djokovic’s movement suddenly decelerated. Between points, the 24-time major champion bent double, resting his hands on his knees. In distressing scenes on court, Djokovic began gagging and vomited behind the baseline, prompting immediate intervention from the tournament physiotherapist and doctor.
Djokovic ingested fluids and medication, but the physical breakdown cascaded across his body. Violent muscle cramping soon locked his thighs and calves, while sharp pains in his lower back and serving shoulder stripped the venom from his deliveries. His first-serve percentage plunged to 55%, and his delivery speeds dropped noticeably, inviting Navone to tee off on returns.
Navone seized the momentum with clinical precision. Sensing his opponent’s compromised state, the Argentine moved Djokovic side to side, landing heavy topspin forehands deep in the corners and deploying deft drop shots. Navone reeled off eight consecutive games across the fourth and fifth sets, sweeping the fourth 6-2 and steamrolling through the decider 6-1 as Djokovic could barely push off to chase balls.
When a final Djokovic backhand drifted long on match point, Arthur Ashe Stadium stood in stunned disbelief. Navone dropped his racket, covered his face with his hands, and broke into wide smiles, having achieved the most monumental upset of the 2026 tennis calendar.
"My Whole Body Started to Collapse"
At his post-match press conference, a subdued and emotional Djokovic spoke with unsparing honesty about the physical ordeal he endured during the contest.
"It was an awful feeling on the court for me," Djokovic admitted, his voice quiet. "The vomiting, the gagging—it's a serious problem, something that I've unfortunately carried through several matches this year. Then my whole body started to give way, with cramps and pain. In the end, my back and shoulders gave out completely. I couldn't finish points, and I couldn't close it out."
Djokovic acknowledged that retirement had crossed his mind as the cramps worsened, but his competitive pride compelled him to finish.
"Yes, I considered stopping," Djokovic said. "When I won the second and third sets, I told myself: 'OK, maybe there is a chance.' I didn't want to give up in the fourth or fifth set. I wanted to fight to the end, but the physical demands at this level are becoming merciless."
Asked directly about what the future holds and whether this might mark his final appearance at Flushing Meadows, the Serbian paused thoughtfully.
"I don't know how I can solve it right now," he conceded. "I don't want to make rash statements in the heat of defeat, but I have to understand what is happening and how much longer I can keep doing this."
Navone's Golden Night
For Navone, Sunday night represented a life-altering breakthrough. Entering the tournament unseeded, the Argentine produced the performance of a lifetime on the sport's biggest stage.
"For sure, it is the best moment I've ever had on a tennis court," Navone said in his on-court interview. "Playing Novak on Arthur Ashe is something you dream about as a kid growing up in Argentina. To stay in the match after going down two sets to one, and to keep believing—I don't even have the words. He is an absolute legend, but tonight I just stayed focused on every single ball."
Navone advances to the second round, having written his name alongside the small fraternity of players who have defeated Djokovic at a major tournament.
The Sunset of a Golden Era
Djokovic's earliest exit in New York concludes a challenging 2026 Grand Slam campaign. While he opened the year strongly by reaching the Australian Open final, he bowed out in the third round at Roland Garros to teenage phenom Joao Fonseca and lost in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals.
The defeat carries significant ranking ramifications: for the first time since July 2018, Djokovic will drop out of the world's top 10. Yet even in defeat, his appearance in New York marked a historic milestone—his 20th career US Open main draw, joining Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, and Feliciano Lopez as the only men in the Open Era to reach that mark.
Whether Djokovic mounts another charge for that elusive, record-breaking 25th major title remains uncertain. What was clear under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday is that Father Time, undefeated against every titan of the sport, has finally arrived on Novak Djokovic's baseline.
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