Djokovic Out in First Round as Navone Ends 20-Year Run

Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title at the 2026 US Open ended before it had barely started. On Sunday evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 39-year-old four-time champion lost to Argentine Mariano Navone 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a five-set battle lasting four hours and 36 minutes — his first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open, snapping a streak of 78 consecutive first-round wins at majors.

Illness Derails Djokovic From the Start

The match began promisingly enough for the Serb. Playing under the closed roof at Ashe with rain falling outside, Djokovic sprinted to a 3-0 lead in the first set, only for Navone to fight back and take the tiebreak 7-5. From that point on, Djokovic's physical condition deteriorated visibly. He was seen vomiting into the towel bin during changeovers on multiple occasions, used an inhaler, and before the fifth set received a spinal massage and tablets from medical staff. The stomach complaint had already cost him at Cincinnati two weeks earlier, and Djokovic himself has described it as a health issue he has been managing for many years.

Despite rallying to lead two sets to one, Djokovic had little reserve when Navone surged in the fourth and fifth sets. The crowd attempted to lift the four-time champion with sustained support, and at one point he was seen tearing up at the baseline. It made no difference: Navone, who entered the match 0-4 in five-set contests on tour, dropped just one point on serve in the decider and won eleven of the last twelve games to complete the biggest upset of the tournament's opening day.

Navone Delivers the Biggest Win of His Career

Ranked 49th and predominantly a clay-court specialist, Navone had never previously beaten a player of Djokovic's stature. On a fast New York hard court — a surface he rarely excels on — the 25-year-old Argentine produced something extraordinary. His defensive instincts, relentless groundstrokes, and mental resilience proved the perfect antidote to a physically compromised opponent.

"It's amazing. The way we played, five sets against the GOAT," Navone said afterwards. "It's unbelievable. It means a lot for me." Having reached two ATP finals without winning either, this victory represents the defining result of his career so far. Navone now advances to the second round and will look to demonstrate the win was no fluke.

What This Means for the Draw

With the fourth seed gone from day one, the section of the draw he occupied opens up considerably. Daniil Medvedev advanced smoothly on the same day, defeating France's Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, and is now among the most obvious beneficiaries. Alexander Zverev, the top seed, is positioned on the other half and has yet to begin his campaign.

The broader question for Djokovic is no longer merely about Grand Slam records. At 39, with a persistent stomach condition affecting his ability to sustain effort across long matches, the timeline for a 25th Slam title is narrowing. His next steps — medical or competitive — will define whether another serious challenge is realistic before the end of the year.