Djokovic exits US Open after Navone wins five-set first-round battle
NEW YORK, August 31 — Novak Djokovic’s US Open ended in the first round after Mariano Navone overturned a two-sets-to-one deficit to win a four-hour, 36-minute contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Argentine prevailed 7–6(5), 5–7, 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 on Sunday night.
Djokovic had opportunities to take control, including an early lead in the opening set and a break advantage in the fourth. Navone recovered both times, then dominated the closing stages as Djokovic struggled physically.
How the match turned
Djokovic moved 3–0 ahead in the first set, but Navone recovered the break and eventually took the tiebreak. The opener alone lasted 73 minutes.
The next two sets brought a reversal. Djokovic broke late in the second to level the match, then secured another decisive break in the third. At that point, the Serbian was one set away from advancing despite the difficulties that would later dominate his post-match assessment.
The fourth set proved pivotal. Djokovic moved ahead with a break, but Navone took it back and won the set 6–2. The Argentine then conceded only one game in the decider. This was Djokovic’s first opening-round defeat at the US Open.
What Djokovic said about his condition
Afterward, the 39-year-old described vomiting, cramping and problems with his back and shoulder. He said he had considered stopping earlier in the match but continued after winning the second and third sets.
That account is his description of the symptoms and limitations he experienced, not an independently established medical diagnosis. It does not establish a recovery timetable or determine his future tournament schedule.
Djokovic also acknowledged Navone’s resistance and the support he received from the New York crowd. The result was a completed five-set defeat, not a retirement or walkover: Navone had to reverse the scoreboard and close out the match.
For Djokovic, the immediate consequence is an unexpectedly early departure. For Navone, the defining achievement was recovering when both the match score and the fourth-set situation were against him. Speculation about whether this was Djokovic’s final US Open appearance remains separate from what was actually confirmed on court.
Archive photograph: Novak Djokovic plays a backhand at Roland-Garros on 28 May 2024. This is not the 2026 US Open match against Navone. Photo: Kuberzog, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; source-supplied crop by Laitche and exposure adjustment by PetarM.
