Novak Djokovic suffered one of the most surprising losses of his career at the 2026 US Open, falling to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a five set first round battle. The 39 year old Serbian lost 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 after four hours and 36 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It marked Djokovic’s first opening round loss at the US Open and his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years.
An Early Lead Slips Away From Djokovic
Djokovic entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed and was searching for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. He appeared to be in control early, racing to leads of 3-0 and 4-1 in the opening set. But Navone refused to allow the match to get away from him.
The 25 year old Argentine fought back to level the set and forced a tiebreak. Djokovic struggled with his accuracy, making 17 unforced errors in the opening set. A missed forehand on set point allowed Navone to take the tiebreak 7-5 and claim the first set.
Djokovic responded like a 24 time major champion. He broke Navone late in the second set and won it 7-5 before taking the third 6-4. For a time, it appeared that Djokovic had survived his difficult start and was beginning to take control of the match.
Physical Problems Change the Match
Even while Djokovic was leading, it was clear that he was struggling physically. He became sick during the match, appeared to suffer from cramps and later received medical treatment for his lower back. A doctor also brought him medication during the contest.
“I didn’t enjoy myself,” Djokovic said after the defeat. “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me.”
Djokovic later explained that the problems have followed him during much of the season. He said his body had been reacting badly during matches, telling reporters, “My whole body starts to collapse, basically, cramping and pain.”
His back and shoulder also became increasingly painful as the match continued. Djokovic finished with 70 unforced errors, an unusually high total for one of the most consistent players in tennis history.
Navone Refuses to Let the Opportunity Escape
Navone faced an enormous challenge. The Argentine was playing inside Arthur Ashe Stadium against a player he had admired while growing up and one of the most successful players in tennis history. Djokovic had also entered the match with a 42-12 career record in five set contests, while Navone had never won one.
But Navone showed little fear as Djokovic began to struggle. He broke the Serbian twice during the fourth set and won it 6-2, forcing the match into a deciding fifth set.
Instead of fading under the pressure, Navone became stronger. His speed and defensive play forced Djokovic into longer rallies while the Serbian’s physical condition continued to decline.
Navone quickly pulled away in the deciding set and completed the biggest victory of his career with a dominant 6-1 finish.
“It means a lot,” Navone said after the match. “It is a dream come true, certainly.”
A Historic First Round Exit for Djokovic
The defeat ended an extraordinary streak for Djokovic. In 20 appearances at the US Open, he had never previously been eliminated in the opening round. His last first round defeat at any Grand Slam came at the 2006 Australian Open.
Djokovic is a four time US Open champion and owns a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles. He arrived in New York hoping to win No. 25, which would have moved him beyond Margaret Court’s total of 24 major singles championships. That pursuit will now have to wait.
The loss also came only weeks after Djokovic was defeated in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open. Before Cincinnati, his previous competition had been a semifinal loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.
Questions Grow About Djokovic’s Future
Djokovic’s physical struggles have created new questions about how much longer he will continue competing at the highest level.
At 39, he has significantly reduced his tournament schedule and placed greater emphasis on preparing for the four Grand Slam events. But the strategy did not produce the result he wanted in New York.
After the match, Djokovic acknowledged that he was still searching for answers about the physical problems affecting him. He also thanked the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, which continued trying to encourage him even as the match slipped away.
When the match ended, Djokovic slowly walked off the court, waved to the crowd and made a heart gesture with his hands. The emotional departure added to speculation about whether fans had just watched his final US Open appearance, although Djokovic has not announced that he plans to retire.
Navone Earns the Biggest Win of His Career
For Navone, the night represented a major breakthrough. The Argentine entered the tournament ranked No. 49 and was better known for his results on clay courts. He had only two previous US Open match victories and one ATP singles title before facing Djokovic.
By defeating one of the sport’s greatest champions on its biggest stage, Navone produced the defining win of his career and one of the first major shocks of the 2026 US Open.
For Djokovic, the loss brings an unexpectedly early end to another attempt at tennis history. For Navone, it was the kind of victory that can change a career. After more than four and a half hours under the lights in New York, the Argentine walked away with his first five set victory while Djokovic left the tournament earlier than he ever had before.
