Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was defeated in the first round of the 2026 US Open tennis tournament by Argentina’s Mariano Navone with a scoreline of 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The match, held in New York, marked Navone’s biggest career victory against Djokovic. Despite struggling with health issues in the fifth set, Djokovic became emotional and shed tears, receiving prolonged applause and encouragement from the spectators.
The match began with Navone winning the first set, after which Djokovic fought back by securing the second and third sets, putting himself back into contention. However, starting from the fourth set, health problems affected Djokovic’s performance. In the fifth set, as he became emotional, the crowd showed their heartfelt support. After the match, Navone described Djokovic as his role model and called the victory “the greatest day of my life.” Navone said, “Winning against a great player in a five-set match isn’t an everyday occurrence. This moment is the realization of my dream.”
At 38 years old, Djokovic’s early exit from the US Open has sparked discussions about whether he will continue to compete in the tournament in the future.
