Djokovic Suffers Shock US Open Exit, Cries After Navone Defeat

Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning first-round exit at the 2026 US Open after Argentina’s Mariano Navone defeated the four-time champion in a dramatic five-set battle.

Navone produced one of the biggest victories of his career, overcoming Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 in a marathon contest that lasted four hours and 36 minutes.

The defeat ended Djokovic’s hopes of claiming a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title and represented his earliest US Open exit since 2005.

Djokovic, 39, struggled with his movement and consistency throughout the encounter as Navone repeatedly forced him into long rallies. The Serbian showed his trademark resilience, recovering from difficult positions and twice levelling the match.

However, Navone maintained his composure in the decisive fifth set and eventually secured the biggest win of his career.

The Argentine dropped to the court in disbelief after Djokovic’s final shot went wide, while the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd applauded both players following the extraordinary contest.

Djokovic was visibly emotional after the match and broke down in tears during his on-court interview. The Serbian struggled to contain his emotions as he reflected on another difficult chapter in his illustrious career.

Despite the disappointment, Djokovic praised Navone for his performance and acknowledged that his opponent deserved the victory.

The loss comes during a challenging period for Djokovic, who has continued competing at the highest level despite being among the oldest players on the men’s tour.

Djokovic had been seeking to add another Grand Slam title to his remarkable collection, having already won 24 major singles championships. His previous four US Open triumphs came in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.

The Serbian had also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year before withdrawing from his match because of injury.

Navone will now advance to the second round, where he will face the winner of another first-round encounter.

For Djokovic, the defeat raises fresh questions about his future at Grand Slam tournaments, although he has not indicated that he intends to retire.

The emotional scenes after the match underlined the significance of the defeat for one of tennis’ greatest-ever players.