Serbia’s Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round of the US Open 2026. He was defeated by Argentina’s world number 49, Mariano Navone, in a five-set match with a scoreline of 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

With this loss, Djokovic’s dream of winning a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title was shattered. He became emotional after the defeat and could not hold back his tears.

The match lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes, marking the longest first-round match of Djokovic’s Grand Slam career. The 39-year-old Djokovic won two of the first three sets, but the 25-year-old Navone staged a brilliant comeback in the final two sets to clinch the victory.

First-round exit at the US Open

This marks the first time in US Open history that Djokovic has been eliminated in the opening round; he had never lost in the first round of this tournament before.

This is the first time since the 2006 Australian Open that Djokovic has been knocked out in the first round of a Grand Slam.

Health issues during the match

After losing the first set, Djokovic made a strong comeback by winning two consecutive sets to take the lead. However, his health began to deteriorate during the final stages of the match.

He was seen vomiting during the match. He used an inhaler and took medication. Additionally, he was frequently seen stretching and appeared to be struggling with back and leg discomfort.