Novak Djokovic exited the US Open in a first-round upset on Sunday, falling in five sets to Argentina’s Mariano Navone at Flushing Meadows in what could mark the final appearance of the 24-time major champion in New York.
The shocking defeat snapped a pristine 19-0 record in opening-round matches at the tournament across 19 previous appearances. When factoring in all four Grand Slam events, the Serbian star’s first-round record previously stood at an unblemished 37-0. Instead, the 39-year-old veteran bowed out after a grueling four-hour and 36-minute battle on the main stadium court, handing the world No. 49 the biggest victory of his professional career with a 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 scoreline.
A Tough Summer and a Historic Upset in New York
As a four-time champion in New York, Djokovic attempted to rally through visible physical fatigue during a demanding North American hard-court swing. His struggles began earlier in the summer when he suffered an early exit at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, falling to another Argentine competitor, Thiago Agustín Tirante. Heavy rain in New York further disrupted the schedule, forcing officials to suspend and postpone several matches on unroofed courts before concluding Djokovic’s marathon encounter under a closed stadium roof.
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Navone joined an exclusive historical club with the victory, becoming only the second Argentine player ever to defeat Djokovic at a Grand Slam tournament, following Guillermo Coria’s win in 2005. Reflecting on the monumental upset, Navone expressed disbelief after closing out the match.
“Sin duda, es fantástico ganar en esta pista, por cómo jugamos. Ganar en cinco sets contra el ‘GOAT’ no es algo que pase cada día,” Navone said after the match. “Es increíble, significa mucho para mí. En la previa fue dura porque iba a jugar contra el GOAT, contra este rival, siempre ha estado en esta pista. Es un sueño.”
Emotional Farewell and Tournament Shakes
Following the final point, Djokovic offered a heartfelt farewell to the Flushing Meadows crowd, lingering on the court to sign autographs for fans before heading to the locker room. The exit leaves the bottom half of the men’s draw wide open as the tournament turns its attention to reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz, who takes the court on Monday.
With little time to rest, Navone advances to face the winner of the match between Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka and Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the second round.
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