(August 30, 2026) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Novak Djokovic has been ousted in the first round of the US Open. This was the first time that the 24-time major winner has ever lost in the opening round in New York. On Sunday, the Serbian fell to Argentine Mariano Navone 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Djokovic blew a 4-1 lead in the opening set, and Navone won the set 7-6 (5). Djokovic had a short medical timeout to get some pills from the trainer.
Djokovic played a little better in the second set, breaking the Argentine in the 11th game and holding for the set to level the match at 6-7, 7-5.
A crucial break in the ninth game of the third set gave Djokovic the lead, and he closed the set 6-4.
Djokovic went up a break 2-1 and was promptly broken back.
He looked as though he was cramping in his foot or leg.
Djokovic saved four break points in the sixth game but couldn’t save a fifth, and Navone took a 4-2 lead. Another break for Navone sent the match to a fifth set.
Navone went up 3-0 in the fifth, and it appeared as though Djokovic had trouble even moving and was visibly crying on court. The Argentine, currently ranked No. 49 in the world has now reached the second round.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me, ” Djokovic said to reporters outside of the locker room after the match. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body, you know, starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out, you know?”
“I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match. Again, I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.”
The loss snapped his streak of first-round wins at majors.
“Yeah, it’s a good record, another one, ” Djokovic said. “But, yeah, I’m not really thinking about it. You know, of course, I’ve been very proud of all the achievements in the past, but now is now.
“You know, now is fresh off the court and still trying to manage my body.”
Djokovic credited the crowd for keeping him going.
“So grateful to experience this. When it comes to match itself and overall feeling of how I felt with body and playing, it was really not enjoyable. I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.
“But from the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible, honestly from the beginning. They were trying to lift me up in important moments, and I’m very sorry that I, you know, didn’t perform as well as I should have or could have or wanted for them. But the love and appreciation they gave me in the end was really touched my heart.”
For the winner, Navone, it was a test of survival. “It was a tough match, a battle,” he said. “I mean, playing against with Novak the first time in the biggest stage we have in the world of tennis right now. So, I mean, it’s crazy. He never lose, like — until 20 years, he never lose in first round, so I mean, it’s crazy.
“But, yeah, for me, I mean, the mental part, I think it was the best one. I was, like, two sets down, two sets to one down, and then break down also in the fourth, but in that moment, like, I feel it, you know? My game was better from there, but in the five set it was tough also for my shots, because he was (indiscernible) with injury. He was like — I understood he wasn’t, like, feel very good. So it’s tough to play against him like this, because you know you have many chances to win against him.
“So the first win, many things in my mind in that moment. So, yeah, but I’m very happy with all that.”
“I never play in the Arthur Ashe, and I never play against Novak. It’s my first time I won a five-set match. I mean, before that I think I lost, like, four matches.
“So, yeah, I mean, this moment we will remember for a long time. You know, you beat Novak in the first round when it’s Grand Slam. I mean, one of the last one I don’t know yet, but you know, it’s something important for me, important for my developing my game also and my mind, too, because I was really finding my level when it was Novak’s.
“So, yeah, I mean, it’s minute odds. So I don’t know what can I say more because Novak is the GOAT in this sport. I beat him in US Open, Arthur Ashe, night session. It’s one of the best moment I have for sure in tennis.”
Navone said that he had to keep his concentration when he realized that Djokovic wasn’t 100%.
“I had to keep my mind in the moment, you know, in the moment, in my game, and the important things on my side. I couldn’t see Novak every time, you know. It’s tough to in four hours, 30 feeling okay, for sure.
“Yeah, I saw him, like, in the fifth set, like a little bit unsure. Also, in the first set with some tired moments, but it’s Novak. He’s the GOAT. He always found the key for beat someone.
“So, yeah, I mean, I think my side — my best thing I did, it was thinking about my side, about my coach, about every time to thinking the strategy when in the thing I had to do. I mean, I think that is the side I can manage.”
No. 7 seed and former winner Daniil Medvedev won’t be giving up tennis for pickleball any time soon.
Andrea Petkovic, doing the on-court interview after he beat Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, asked: “A few days ago you said you were contemplating changing from tennis to pickleball. Where do you stand on that after today’s great performance?”
Medvedev: “Unfortunately, tennis takes too much energy and time. Otherwise, I would do something else. Maybe not exactly pickleball, but I’d exchange tennis… sometimes tennis, sometimes something else. Unfortunately, tennis is a full-time job. Until I’m, let’s say, 37 and a half, I will be happy to play tennis. And then let’s see what life brings me.”
The 2022 US Open finalist and No. 20 in the world, Casper Ruud, withdrew from the tournament due to a back injury.
