Highlights:
- Novak Djokovic lost in the first round of the US Open for the first time since the 2006 Australian Open.
- The four-time US Open champion was beaten 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
- Djokovic vomited at least five times, used an inhaler and received medical treatment during the match.
- The 39-year-old said he had “pretty much despised every moment” he spent on court because of his physical condition.
- Djokovic’s next tournament commitment could be the Australian Open, fitness allowing.
Novak Djokovic’s latest US Open campaign ended in painful and emotional fashion Monday after the four-time champion was defeated by Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the opening round.
Djokovic, 39, battled through more than four and a half hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium despite vomiting repeatedly, suffering cramps and struggling with pain in his back, hip and shoulder. His 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 loss marked his first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam in 20 years.
The former champion was visibly emotional during the deciding set, with tears flowing as he stood behind the baseline. Despite appearing barely able to move, Djokovic chose to complete the match.
Afterward, he gave a candid assessment of an experience that had pushed him to his physical limits.
“I think it was obvious that [it was] an awful feeling on the court for me,” Djokovic said later. “It is something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up – [there is a] 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. [I was a] break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match... Congrats to him; he’s a nice guy, fighter, but you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.”
Djokovic battled through severe physical problems
The match quickly became less about Djokovic’s usual level of tennis and more about whether his body would allow him to continue.
He was gasping for air and sweating heavily from the early stages. Djokovic eventually vomited at least five times and repeatedly communicated with his team, requesting different drinks and supplements.
He also used an inhaler, received pills and underwent several medical checks. Before the deciding set, Djokovic took a medical timeout, during which he received treatment and a massage around his lower back and hip.
At different points, he appeared to struggle with cramping in his left foot. He also fell heavily while stretching for a wide forehand.
The roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed after eight games because of rain, bringing down the temperature inside the stadium. Even with the cooler conditions, however, Djokovic appeared to deteriorate physically as the match progressed.
By the closing stages, he was struggling to move around the court.
An emotional finish in New York
The physical struggle became visibly emotional during the fifth set.
With Navone preparing to serve, Djokovic stood behind the baseline and began to cry. The tears continued for a minute or two before he composed himself and returned to the match.
By then, the comeback appeared out of reach, but Djokovic continued until the final point.
He later explained that retirement had crossed his mind during the contest.
“I have, I have. But then I won a set, and then the third one, and then I was like, ‘OK, you know, maybe there is a chance,’ and yeah, I didn’t want to give up in fourth or fifth [sets], so I wanted to finish the match.”
After Navone sealed the victory with a desperate drop-shot winner, Djokovic thanked the crowd before leaving the court. He also stopped to sign autographs.
His wife Jelena and children Stefan and Tara watched from the stands as the difficult match unfolded.
Djokovic says his health remains a serious concern
The defeat comes after Djokovic previously spoke about ongoing health problems following his loss to another Argentine player, Thiago Agustín Tirante, at the Cincinnati Open.
At the time, Djokovic said: “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years”, while also saying he had to deal with “a lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot”.
His latest comments suggested that the problem remains unresolved.
Asked whether his medical issues could be fixed, Djokovic gave an uncertain response.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I’m trying, man. I’m trying. I’m just trying to address really what’s going on and how far I can go this way.”
The physical problems have become an increasingly important part of the conversation around Djokovic’s ability to continue competing at the highest level.
A historic early exit for a four-time champion
The result represents a dramatic departure from Djokovic’s extraordinary Grand Slam consistency.
His previous first-round defeat at a major came at the 2006 Australian Open, when he was an 18-year-old player at the beginning of his career.
Since then, he had gone 78 Grand Slam tournaments without losing his opening match.
His defeat to Navone is also Djokovic’s worst-ever showing at the US Open, where he has captured the championship four times.
The result does not erase the level he has continued to reach late in major tournaments. Djokovic reached the Australian Open final in January and produced one sensational set of tennis in that match before fatigue eventually affected him.
But his latest US Open exit raises fresh questions about how much longer his body can sustain the demands of Grand Slam tennis.
Djokovic’s future remains uncertain
Djokovic’s immediate future is now unclear.
The tournament exit adds to an increasingly open men’s draw, with Carlos Alcaraz entering as the bookmakers’ favorite. However, Alcaraz had not played a competitive singles match since mid-April and faced a potentially difficult test against Roman Safiullin.
For Djokovic, the more pressing issue is his health.
Despite the difficulties he faced against Navone, he remains convinced that he may have more elite tennis to offer. His next likely major target could be the Australian Open in Melbourne, fitness allowing.
For now, though, his US Open campaign has ended in a manner few would have expected from a four-time champion: a first-round defeat, a physically punishing night and an emotional farewell from the court.
Despite the frustration, Djokovic made sure to acknowledge the fans who stayed with him through the ordeal.
“They were super nice. I mean, [I’m] so grateful to experience this. You know, when it comes to [the] match itself and [the] overall feeling of how I felt with [my] body, playing was really not enjoyable, and I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court. But from the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible.
“Honestly, from the beginning, they were trying to lift me up in important moments, and I’m very sorry that I didn’t perform as well as I should have or could have ever wanted for them. But the love and appreciation they gave me in the end has really touched my heart.”
