Novak Djokovic stunned by Mariano Navone in US Open 2026 first round

On the night of August 31, 2026 at Flushing Meadows in New York, Mariano Navone, the Argentine world No. 49, shocked the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the US Open. It was Djokovic's earliest Grand Slam exit in more than two decades, the first time he had lost in the opening round of a major since the 2026 Australian Open. Djokovic, 39, arrived at the tournament chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner absent and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz still recovering from injury, many had considered the Serbian legend one of the clear favorites. However, his body failed him under the brutal demands of best-of-five-set tennis. Djokovic struggled with shoulder and back problems, and at one point vomited on court. After losing the opening-set tie-break 7-5, he fought back to win the next two sets 7-5 and 6-4. But the physical toll became insurmountable: he managed only two games in the fourth set and one in the fifth, losing the final two sets by a combined 12-3 game margin. Navone, a clay-court specialist, showed remarkable composure. He later said: "I had to focus on my game. He never looked particularly comfortable with his shots or physically." The Argentine's heavy topspin forehand forced Djokovic to hit at higher contact points, aggravating his shoulder issues. The defeat reshapes the US Open draw and raises serious questions about Djokovic's ability to continue competing at the highest level at age 39. While every result in tennis must respect the opponent's performance, the pattern of Djokovic's collapse pointed more to acute physical breakdown than tactical superiority. It remains unclear whether this is a one-off event or the beginning of a gradual farewell.