By Dorcas Francis Koji
Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning first-round exit at the 2026 US Open on Sunday, losing to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a gruelling five-set battle that ended his latest attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The 39-year-old Serbian, who was visibly affected by physical problems throughout the contest, went down 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to the world No. 48.
The defeat marked Djokovic’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament in two decades and ended his remarkable run of 78 consecutive first-round victories at the four major tournaments.
Djokovic’s first-round winning streak dated back to the 2006 Australian Open, when he lost to American Paul Goldstein.
The four-time US Open champion struggled physically from the opening stages against Navone. He vomited several times during the contest and later battled severe cramps and pain.
“It was an awful feeling on the court for me,” Djokovic admitted after the match.
The Serbian revealed that vomiting and physical problems had affected him in several matches during the year.
“Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain,” he said.
Djokovic appeared to regain control after winning the second and third sets. He broke Navone early in the fourth set with a trademark backhand winner down the line to take a 2-1 lead.
However, the Argentine responded emphatically, winning the next five games to take the fourth set 6-2 and force a decider.
Djokovic took a medical timeout before the fifth set, receiving treatment to his spine and taking further medication.
But there was no recovery for the former world No. 1.
Navone raced into a 3-0 lead and maintained his composure to close out the biggest victory of his career, dropping just one point on his own serve in the decisive set.
Djokovic had entered the tournament having never lost before the third round at Flushing Meadows. However, concerns over his fitness had already emerged during his only warm-up tournament in Cincinnati, where he suffered an opening-round defeat.
Against Navone, Djokovic briefly led 4-1 in the opening set but was clearly struggling, repeatedly gasping for breath during rallies before eventually losing the set in a tiebreak.
He fought back in the second set, breaking Navone at 5-5 before serving out the set to level the match.
Djokovic then took the third set after securing a crucial break in the ninth game and saving a break point in the following game.
The Serbian admitted that he had considered retiring from the match but decided to continue after finding a way back into the contest.
“I have,” Djokovic said when asked if he had thought about giving up. “But then I won a set and then the third. I didn’t want to give up.”
His determination ultimately could not overcome his physical struggles as Navone stormed through the final two sets to complete a historic upset.
Pegula, Medvedev Advance
Elsewhere, world No. 3 Jessica Pegula began her US Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Pegula broke Ruse twice in each set to secure a comfortable victory, although the American admitted she was nervous before the match.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a strong season, winning two titles and reaching three other finals, and remains in contention for her first Grand Slam title as well as the world No. 1 ranking.
Seventh seed and former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev also progressed to the second round with a convincing 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over France’s Hugo Gaston.
The Russian produced a composed performance, a major improvement from his first-round defeat at the tournament last year.
Meanwhile, Dino Prizmic survived a dramatic five-set encounter against Aleksandr Shevchenko, saving two match points before winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
Spain’s Jaume Munar also endured a marathon battle, needing almost five hours to defeat France’s Terence Atmane 6-7 (5/7), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.
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