Novak Djokovic suffered a historic first-round exit at the US Open on Sunday night, losing to Argentina's Mariano Navone in a five-set marathon at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 39-year-old fourth seed fell 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes.
A Historic Early Exit
The defeat marks Djokovic's earliest departure from any Grand Slam tournament in 20 years, dating back to the 2006 Australian Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was visibly struggling physically throughout the night, battling vomiting and severe cramping that required medical attention, medication, and lower back treatment between sets.
Djokovic committed 70 unforced errors in the match, a statistic that underscores his struggles on the court. "I didn't enjoy myself," Djokovic admitted after the match. "I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It's something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out."
Navone's Career-Defining Victory
After surging to early leads in the opening set, Djokovic lost his rhythm and dropped the tiebreak. He fought back to take the second and third sets, but the physical toll proved too great as the 25-year-old Navone dominated the final two sets to secure the biggest victory of his career.
"It was very tough for me because you are playing with the 'GOAT' on this court," Navone said following his first career five-set victory. "For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court. This is an amazing court and the biggest stage."
Questions Over Djokovic's Future
The loss follows an early exit at Cincinnati earlier in August and raises questions regarding Djokovic's future on the tour. The Serbian legend noted he is evaluating how much further his body can take the physical strain, leaving fans and analysts speculating about his next steps in professional tennis.
