Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic concluded his participation in the 2026 US Open in the very first round. In the men's singles match held on August 31 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, Djokovic lost to Argentine Mariano Navón with a score of 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The match lasted 4 hours and 40 minutes. Despite Djokovic managing to demonstrate impressive recovery after losing the first two sets by winning the second and third, the duration of the game exacerbated his physical discomfort. In the deciding set, 25-year-old Navón completely took control of the game and secured a historic victory.
Mariano Navón is ranked 49th in the world rankings, while Novak Djokovic is ranked fifth. Throughout the match, Djokovic struggled with his physical condition; at one point, his state deteriorated so much that he had to move to the edge of the court to alleviate nausea. Nevertheless, he managed to pull himself together and win the third set 6-4, attempting to turn the tide of the match. However, in the fourth set, his energy and serve suffered.
Maintaining constant pressure, Mariano Navón won the fourth set 6-2. Djokovic's situation worsened even more in the fifth set. Although he managed to win his first game, he looked extremely exhausted afterward. After the spectators cheered for him, Djokovic became upset and began wiping away tears.
This defeat caused Novak Djokovic to lose a very long Grand Slam record: he had not lost in the first round of any major tournament since the Australian Open 2006. His exit from the US Open is considered significant as he is among the most successful players of the tournament. Nevertheless, his performance in this match did not meet his usual standard.
Novak Djokovic had previously stated that he has been concerned about health issues in recent years. He mentioned in Seattle that hot and humid conditions aggravate his problems. This was reflected in the long US Open match, where he battled his physical capabilities until the fifth set.
For Mariano Navón, this victory is one of the most significant in his career. The Argentine tennis player defeated a top-5 player for the first time. After the match, Navón called the victory a 'dream come true.' Now, a serious challenge awaits him in the next round, and his opponents could be Stan Wawrinka or Matteo Berrettini.