Navone Beats Berrettini to Complete Stunning US Open Double

Back-to-Back Giants

Less than twenty-four hours after making history by eliminating Novak Djokovic in the first round, Mariano Navone delivered another thunderbolt at Flushing Meadows. The Argentine beat Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) on Thursday to reach the third round of the 2026 US Open, completing one of the most astonishing back-to-back upsets in recent Grand Slam memory.

Djokovic on Monday — the greatest player the sport has ever seen, exiting in the first round for the first time in twenty years. Berrettini on Wednesday — a former Wimbledon finalist and one of the most dangerous hard-court strikers in the game. If the first scalp stunned New York, the second confirmed that Navone's run is no fluke.

How the Match Unfolded

Berrettini came out firing. Playing with the aggressive, flat ball-striking that made him a finalist at the All England Club in 2021, the Italian broke early and took the opening set 6-3 with relative comfort. Navone struggled to find his range and appeared rattled by the pace of the balls coming off the Italian's racket.

But patience is Navone's weapon. From the second set onwards, the Argentine's relentless topspin groundstrokes from the baseline began to disrupt Berrettini's rhythm. Navone levelled the match with a dominant 6-3 second set, then pressed home his advantage in the third to lead two sets to one.

The fourth set was the closest. Berrettini held his nerve through a tense contest to push it into a tiebreak, where a single break of concentration can decide everything. Navone kept his cool, converting his chance at 6-4 in the tiebreak to seal the match and send a stunned Arthur Ashe crowd into wild applause.

An Argentine on a Mission

Navone arrived at this US Open with a solid 2026 season behind him but without the Grand Slam pedigree to intimidate top opponents. That dynamic has changed irrevocably over the past 48 hours. In two matches he has removed two players with a combined twelve Grand Slam titles between them — Djokovic's 24 and Berrettini's zero finals, but a career deeply respected on every surface.

The Argentine's game is built on resilience and relentless baseline depth. He rarely goes for outright winners from the middle of the court, preferring to grind down opponents until the opportunity opens. Against Berrettini, who thrives on dictating with heavy forehands, Navone absorbed the early punishment and waited until the Italian's power began to fade.

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A Dream Third Round Awaits

Navone's reward for these two victories is a third-round clash against compatriot Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who also advanced through his half of the draw. An all-Argentine third-round match at the US Open is a rare and compelling prospect, promising high-intensity clay-court-style baseline exchanges on the hard courts of New York.

Berrettini, by contrast, now faces an uncertain assessment of a season that had suggested a return to top-level form. He beat Stan Wawrinka comfortably in the first round, but Navone's surge proved a step too far. His hard-court ranking points from the US Open will reflect a second-round exit, putting pressure on his ranking heading into the Asian swing.

For Navone, the only direction is forward. Two giants down, and an Argentine derby in the third round of a Grand Slam. Flushing Meadows is writing a new story this fortnight — and Navone is the author.