Novak Djokovic Shockingly Exits U.S. Open in First Round

Novak Djokovic experienced a surprising defeat in the first round of the U.S. Open, losing to Mariano Navone with a score of 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The match, which lasted four hours and 36 minutes, highlighted potential issues with Djokovic's conditioning and possibly an injury.

This loss marked Djokovic's third defeat in 2026 and the second consecutive tournament where he exited in the first match. Earlier in the season, he lost to Dino Prizmic in the second round of the ATP Masters Rome.

Djokovic had previously held leads in the first set but ultimately lost in a tiebreaker, marking the first time he lost a first-round match at the U.S. Open since 2006. He finished the match with 70 unforced errors, while Navone won 165 points compared to Djokovic's 146. This victory was Navone's third hard-court Grand Slam win.