Open on Sunday night, falling 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a four-hour and 36-minute marathon. Plagued by illness, vomiting, and physical exhaustion in New York, the 24-time grand slam champion faced his earliest major tournament exit in two decades.
Open brought an abrupt and grueling end to Novak Djokovic’s tournament run as the 39-year-old Serb struggled through severe physical distress inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Facing Mariano Navone, Djokovic endured a four-hour and 36-minute five-set marathon on Sunday, August 30, 2026, culminating in a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 defeat that marked the longest opening match of a Grand Slam in his career.
Physical Ailments and Arthur Ashe Stadium Drama
Distress surfaced early on court. Barely 15 minutes into the match, before he could even consolidate an early break in the first set, Djokovic began showing signs of strain amid the humid conditions. As the grueling match wore on, his physical condition deteriorated sharply.
Midway through the opening set, Djokovic began coughing behind the baseline before vomiting straight into the towel bin near the corner of the court. Tournament organizers closed the stadium roof due to rain as the opening set moved toward a tie-break, during which Djokovic appeared wearily doubled over between points. A doctor supplied pills during a changeover, and medical personnel later massaged his lower back between the fourth and fifth sets.
“It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”
Djokovic accumulated 70 unforced errors during the painful performance that ended mere minutes before midnight. An eerie hush fell across Arthur Ashe Stadium as spectators realized the four-time champion was physically unable to rally out of trouble.
Mariano Navone Seizes a Dream Victory
While the veteran champion fought off cramps and heavy legs, his opponent maintained relentless pressure. Mariano Navone, a 25-year-old from Argentina who secured his first ATP singles title earlier this year, chased down balls and kept deep, consistent length from both wings to wear down the fading seed.
“(It) was very tough for me because you are playing with the ‘GOAT’ on this court. For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court. This is an amazing court and the biggest stage. It’s amazing, the way we play. I mean, five sets. … I’m very happy. I don’t know. What can I say?”
A Historic Exit and an Uncertain Future
This early elimination marks just the third time in Djokovic’s career that he has exited a major tournament in the opening round, and his earliest exit at a Grand Slam in two decades, dating back to the 2006 Australian Open. Open.
The defeat compounds a difficult stretch for the 39-year-old, who also lost in the first round at the hardcourt tune-up in Cincinnati earlier in the month following a semifinal run at Wimbledon.
Open debut, the defeat left Djokovic in tears and forced him to confront tough questions about his longevity in the sport.
Djokovic stated that he plans to examine his physical condition and evaluate how far he can continue competing under such physical strain, leaving his future at the major tournaments hanging in the balance.
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