A major upset unfolded on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Novak Djokovic, struggling physically, was eliminated in the first round of the US Open on Sunday, marking his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years.
The former world No. 1, now ranked fifth, was beaten 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Argentina’s Mariano Navone, ranked 49th, after a battle lasting more than four and a half hours.
“It was horrible on the court. Unfortunately, it’s something I’ve been dealing with almost every match this year. Vomiting like that is a real problem at this level. Then my whole body started to give out, with pain and cramps,” Djokovic said.
The elimination moves the 39-year-old further away from the prospect of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The four-time winner of the year’s final major, in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023, had already shown signs of physical weakness two weeks ago during his only preparation match in Cincinnati, where he was beaten in the first round in oppressive heat.
At Flushing Meadows, he had never lost in the first round in 19 appearances. His previous first-round exit at a Grand Slam came in 2006 at the Australian Open.
Djokovic considered giving up
Djokovic appeared to be struggling physically after taking a 4-1 lead in the first set. Looking dazed, he repeatedly put ice on his face after only a few games.
Despite taking medication, the Belgrade native vomited several times. He eventually lost the opening set in a tie-break after a forehand hit the top of the net.
The Serbian then recovered, taking advantage of a service game completely given away by Navone to move ahead and level the match at one set apiece. The same scenario played out in the following set, when the Argentine again lost his serve at a key moment, allowing Djokovic to take control of the match.
Did he consider retiring from the match? “Of course, but then I won a set and then the third. So I thought, ‘maybe there’s a chance,’” the Serbian explained.
But he paid for his efforts in the fourth set. He led 2-1 when he was hit by cramps before disappearing completely, losing eight games in a row.
Wiping away a few tears despite encouragement from the New York crowd, he eventually gave in after 4 hours and 36 minutes of battle.
Nole left the court after signing a few autographs before heading down the corridors with his bags over his shoulders, looking exhausted and walking heavily.
Medvedev and Pegula advance
Earlier on Sunday, 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, ranked eighth, and world No. 3 Jessica Pegula comfortably won their opening matches.
Struggling for results since the start of the North American hard-court swing, to the point of recently joking about an unlikely switch to pickleball, the 30-year-old Russian beat France’s Hugo Gaston, ranked 91st, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Before Medvedev’s victory, Jessica Pegula reaffirmed her ambitions in a women’s draw without an obvious favorite, beating Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, ranked 64th, 6-3, 6-2.
At 32, the American is enjoying one of the best seasons of her career and is chasing not only her first Grand Slam title in New York but also Aryna Sabalenka’s world No. 1 ranking.
In the women’s draw, Venus Williams, ranked 615th and given a wildcard by the organizers, was again eliminated in the first round, this time by Sofia Kenin, ranked 110th but formerly No. 4, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
The former world No. 1 has not won a Grand Slam match in more than five years and, at 46, has suffered her 14th consecutive defeat on the circuit, where she continues to regularly receive wildcards.
