Mariano Navone Breaks Novak Djokovic’s 20-Year US Open Record in First Round

The 20-Year Milestone Broken in New York

Records show that Novak Djokovic had maintained a flawless streak in the opening round of the US Open since 2006, winning every single inaugural set of his tournament debuts in New York over a 20-year span. That remarkable run ended when Mariano Navone captured the first set in a tightly contested tiebreak. According to tennis records, the last player to take the opening set against Djokovic in a US Open debut was Donald Young back in 2006. The surprising opening frame set the tone for a dramatic encounter on the hard courts, where the veteran champion struggled visibly with his physical energy and movement from the outset.

Physical Struggles and Court-Level Intensity

Reports from the grounds indicate that Djokovic appeared heavy-legged and short on energy right from the opening exchanges, battling fatigue under the New York lights. Social media commentary highlighted the unusual state of the 24-time Grand Slam champion, with tennis analyst Bastien Fachan noting on X (formerly Twitter) that the Serbian star was losing his inaugural set at the tournament for the first time since 2006. Navone capitalized on the situation by playing high-intensity tennis, relentlessly hunting down balls from the baseline and applying constant pressure with a sharp backhand that kept Djokovic on the defensive throughout the early rallies.

For the first time since 2006, Novak Djokovic loses his inaugural set of the US Open 🤯

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) August 31, 2026

Longevity and Grand Slam Participation

Even as he labored through the opening rounds and fought off physical exhaustion, Djokovic extended another historic longevity benchmark. Records indicate that by taking the court at Flushing Meadows in 2026, the champion secured a minimum of 20 career participations across every single Grand Slam event on the professional calendar—the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Observers note that this exceptional durability stems from decades of meticulous physical conditioning and a specialized approach to body maintenance that has shielded him from major career-ending injuries.

What Comes Next at Flushing Meadows