Open after losing in New York in a way he never has before. In a stunning result at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday night, the 39-year-old Serbian, seeded No. 4, fell to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a five-set marathon. The final scoreline of 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, reached after 4 hours and 36 minutes, marked the longest opening match of a Grand Slam in Djokovic’s career.
A Historic Collapse at Arthur Ashe
The End of an Unprecedented Streak
The defeat snapped a streak of 77 first-round wins at Grand Slams, the longest such run in the Open era for men’s or women’s tennis. Djokovic had not lost a first-round match at a major since the 2006 Australian Open, when, as the world No. 76, he fell to Paul Goldstein. Open. The loss also ended a streak of 19 consecutive Grand Slam wins for Djokovic against Argentinian players.
A Physical Struggle Under the Lights
Throughout the match, it was clear that Djokovic was struggling with physical and internal ailments. He appeared lethargic, limping, and vomiting into his towel box on multiple occasions. During the encounter, he was seen grimacing in agony and applying ice bags to his head. Between the fourth and fifth sets, he received a medical timeout during which he had his lower back massaged and swallowed pills provided by a doctor. Despite these efforts, he appeared to be cramping, notably grabbing at his left foot during the latter stages of the match.
Navone Capitalizes on Fading Form
The physical decline was evident as the match progressed. After cruising to early 3-0 and 4-1 leads in the first set, Djokovic faded as the match stretched beyond the third set. He committed 70 unforced errors in the performance, with 29 of those occurring in the final two sets. By the second game of the final set, Navone pushed Djokovic around the court, drawing him to the net and hitting a backhand down the line that Djokovic could not return. As the night ended mere minutes before midnight, the stadium atmosphere grew, as described in reports, “funereal.”
A Career Milestone for the Challenger
For the 25-year-old Navone, the victory represents the biggest win of his career. Having secured his first ATP title in Bucharest and a Challenger 175 victory in Cap Cana earlier this year, Navone capitalized on his opponent’s struggles, winning 63.3% of the points across the fourth and fifth sets. He becomes only the second Argentinian to defeat the Belgrade native in a Grand Slam since Guillermo Coria at Roland Garros in 2005.
Uncertainty Hangs Over a Legendary Career
With this defeat, occurring 21 years to the day of his U.S. Open debut, questions linger regarding whether this was Djokovic’s final match at a Grand Slam. Having spent three years chasing his 25th major title, Sunday’s result guarantees that wait will continue into 2027, provided he chooses to continue competing.