Novak Djokovic in Tears After Shock US Open First-Round Exit to Mariano Navone
Novak Djokovic broke down in tears after suffering a shock first-round US Open defeat to Argentina's Mariano Navone, ending his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title ended extraordinarily on Sunday as the Serbian tennis legend suffered a shock first-round defeat to Argentina's Mariano Navone at the 2026 US Open.
The 39-year-old Djokovic battled through severe physical problems during a gruelling four-hour, 36-minute contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium before eventually losing 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The defeat was not only a major upset but also a historic low point in Djokovic's remarkable Grand Slam career. It was his first opening-round defeat at a major since the 2006 Australian Open, when he was just 18 years old. (Reuters)
The emotional scenes that followed were among the most striking moments of the tournament's opening day. Djokovic was visibly moved by the support of the New York crowd and fought back tears as his latest Grand Slam campaign ended abruptly.
Djokovic battles severe physical problems
The defeat was largely shaped by Djokovic's physical condition.
From the early stages of the match, the Serbian appeared uncomfortable in the humid New York conditions. He repeatedly bent over between points, struggled with his breathing and eventually vomited several times during the contest.
Djokovic also battled cramping, back pain and a shoulder problem, making it increasingly difficult for him to move freely and generate his usual power.
The official US Open website reported that Djokovic acknowledged after the match that he had been struggling with a serious physical issue throughout much of the 2026 season.
"My whole body starts to collapse," Djokovic said while explaining how vomiting was followed by cramping and pain. He added that his back and shoulder eventually became significant problems. (US Open)
Despite those difficulties, Djokovic refused to surrender.
Serbian great takes two-set-to-one lead
Remarkably, Djokovic appeared to be on course for an unlikely comeback victory despite his physical struggles.
Navone, ranked outside the world's top 40, won the opening set 7-6 after Djokovic had initially established a lead.
The Serbian responded by taking the second set 7-5 and then won the third 6-4, putting himself just one set away from advancing.
At one stage in the fourth set, Djokovic even broke Navone and appeared to have regained control of the match.
But his physical condition deteriorated dramatically.
Navone recovered the break and began taking advantage of Djokovic's reduced movement. The Argentine won the fourth set 6-2 before dominating the decider 6-1.
The final stages were particularly painful to watch as Djokovic struggled to move around the court while Navone continued to chase down balls and maintain pressure.
Navone produces biggest victory of his career
For Mariano Navone, victory was the biggest achievement of his professional career.
The 25-year-old Argentine entered the match as the underdog but showed remarkable composure against one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Navone refused to become distracted by Djokovic's reputation or the enormous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.
Instead, he maintained his intensity throughout the four-hour battle, repeatedly forcing Djokovic into long rallies and making the most of his opponent's physical limitations.
Reuters described the victory as the biggest of Navone's career, while Djokovic himself was quick to praise the Argentine after the match.
Djokovic made a point of ensuring that his opponent received full credit for the victory rather than allowing his physical problems to overshadow Navone's achievement.
Djokovic admits he considered retiring
The severity of Djokovic's condition became clear when he admitted that he had considered retiring from the match.
Speaking after the defeat, the 24-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that there were moments when he thought about stopping.
However, winning the second and third sets gave him renewed hope that he could somehow complete the comeback.
"I have, I have," Djokovic said when asked whether he had considered retiring. He explained that after winning sets, he began to believe there was still a chance to win. (ATP Tour)
Ultimately, though, his body could not sustain the effort.
Tears as Arthur Ashe rallies behind Djokovic
The most emotional moment came during the deciding set.
As Djokovic struggled against Navone, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd attempted to lift the Serbian with loud support.
The crowd's reaction appeared to affect Djokovic deeply.
At one point in the fifth set, he became visibly emotional and fought back tears.
After the match, Djokovic said the support from the spectators had touched his heart.
He explained that although he had found the match itself extremely unpleasant because of his physical condition, the affection shown by the crowd was something he deeply appreciated.
The emotional response highlighted the extraordinary relationship Djokovic developed with tennis fans during a career spanning more than two decades.
End of 25th Grand Slam dream
Djokovic arrived in New York hoping to achieve another piece of tennis history.
At 39, he was attempting to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would have moved him ahead of Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24 major singles championships.
Instead, his campaign ended after only one match.
The result also means Djokovic will not add a fifth US Open singles crown to his collection.
His previous US Open titles came in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2021.
The Serbian remains one of the most successful players in tournament history, but Sunday's defeat represents an extraordinary reversal of expectations.
First Grand Slam opening-round loss in 20 years
The statistical significance of the defeat is difficult to overstate.
Djokovic had not lost his opening match at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
According to the ATP Tour, Sunday's defeat was only the third first-round loss of his Grand Slam career. His other opening-round defeat came at the 2005 Australian Open.
His appearance in New York also represented his 84th Grand Slam tournament, extending his record for men's major appearances.
That longevity has been one of the defining features of Djokovic's career.
Yet his latest defeat illustrates the increasingly difficult physical demands of competing at the highest level at 39.
Djokovic's future is now under scrutiny
The defeat has inevitably raised questions about Djokovic's future.
The Serbian has already reduced his tournament schedule in recent seasons to concentrate on the Grand Slams and selected major events.
But the recurring physical problems experienced this year could force him to reassess how much longer he can compete at the highest level.
Djokovic admitted after the match that the issue he has been experiencing throughout the season remains unresolved.
Asked whether the problem could be fixed, he said he did not know but was continuing to work on it.
"I'm trying, man. I'm trying," Djokovic said.
Those comments are likely to fuel speculation about whether the 2026 US Open could eventually prove to be his final appearance at Flushing Meadows.
However, Djokovic did not announce his retirement, and there is currently no confirmation that he intends to end his career.
A painful night for a tennis icon
For Navone, the night will be remembered as the moment he defeated one of the greatest players in tennis history.
For Djokovic, it will be remembered as one of the most physically and emotionally difficult matches of his extraordinary career.
The Serbian fought for more than four and a half hours despite vomiting, cramping and suffering back and shoulder problems.
But eventually, his body could no longer match his competitive spirit.
As Navone celebrated the biggest win of his career, Djokovic walked away from Arthur Ashe Stadium with tears in his eyes and uncertainty surrounding what comes next.
The defeat may mark the beginning of a new chapter in Djokovic's career or simply another setback for a champion who has repeatedly defied expectations.
For now, however, one thing is certain: Novak Djokovic's 2026 US Open campaign is over after a first-round defeat that ended his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title and produced one of the most emotional exits of his career.