The opening night session of the 2026 US Open turned into a scene of physical distress as Novak Djokovic, the 24-time grand slam champion, suffered a grueling first-round defeat to Mariano Navone. The match, which lasted four hours and 36 minutes, concluded near midnight with a 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 scoreline. The intensity of the contest was underscored by the moment Djokovic, approaching the three-hour mark, walked to the corner of Arthur Ashe Stadium to vomit into a towel bin—an act he repeated multiple times throughout the evening.
A Historic and Abject Defeat
This loss marks a significant milestone in tennis history, representing only the third time in the 39-year-old’s career that he has exited a major tournament in the first round. It is his earliest grand slam departure since the 2006 Australian Open, occurring over 20 years ago when he was just 18. Despite the record-extending 84th grand slam appearance of his career, Djokovic appeared physically compromised almost immediately. Barely 15 minutes into the match, while holding an early 2-0 lead, he began showing signs of struggle with the humidity, despite the relatively mild night-time conditions.
Physical Collapse and Tactical Challenges
- Djokovic spent the majority of the five-set encounter in a visible daze, alternating between desperate panting, vomiting, loss of balance, and severe cramping.
- At 4-3 in the opening set, tournament officials closed the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof due to rain, which did little to alleviate the Serbian’s physical decline.
- While his opponent, 25-year-old Mariano Navone, appeared entirely unaffected by the environment, Djokovic relied on ice cloths and medical intervention, receiving pills from a doctor at 5-4 in the first set.
- Despite his physical limitations, Djokovic’s serving remained sharp for much of the match, allowing him to secure a two-sets-to-one lead before his body ultimately failed him in the fourth and fifth sets.
The physical issues mirror recent struggles for Djokovic, who faced similar difficulties against Thiago Agustín Tirante at the Cincinnati Open just weeks prior. Reflecting on the defeat, Djokovic was candid about his condition. “I think it was obvious that [it was] an awful feeling on the court for me,” he stated. “It is something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up, 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.”
A Dream Victory for Navone
For Mariano Navone, the victory was the pinnacle of a long-held ambition. The Argentinian, who has climbed back into the top 50 after a dip in rankings last year, has long considered Djokovic his idol. Fans noted that Navone’s admiration for the legend dates back at least to 2014, when he posted about his fandom on social media as a 13-year-old. While the draw was initially viewed as favorable for Djokovic—given Navone’s historical preference for clay courts—the match transformed into a test of endurance that the younger player passed with composure.
As the final points were played, Djokovic’s movement slowed significantly, and he eventually walked off the court and back to the locker room in tears. While he acknowledged Navone’s performance, calling him a “nice guy” and a “fighter,” the primary narrative of the evening remained the physical toll exacted on the veteran champion. The defeat leaves the tennis world to contemplate the future of one of its greatest icons, who continues to battle both elite competition and the increasing difficulty of maintaining peak physical performance at the highest level of the sport. The report also notes that and his miserable night ended around midnight with the 24-time grand slam champion in tea, this was neither the first nor the last time that Djokovic threw up during an excruciating four hours and 36 minutes of suffering. The report also notes that nearly all of his best results had come on clay, although Navone is a tough competitor who has impressively re-established himself inside the top 50 after nearly exiting the top 100 last year. The report also notes that instead, it took just 20 minutes for the drama to begin. The report also notes that perhaps the most startling part of this loss was how early Djokovic’s suffering had started. The report also notes that he had nothing left to give, by the end of the match. The report also notes that this was not merely an unlucky illness that struck Djokovic at an inopportune time. The report also notes that he reiterated those sentiments after this latest painful loss. The report also notes that and again, don’t want to take too much out of his win.
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