Novak Djokovic lost in the opening round of the 2026 U.S. Open to Argentina's Mariano Navone, the world No. 49, in a five-set match that lasted nearly five hours.
Djokovic managed stomach issues and cramps during the match, swallowing pills to cope. He cried on the court during play and acknowledged he nearly quit early.
"I'm trying, man, I'm trying. Let's see," Djokovic said after the loss.
The defeat marks a rare stumble for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who has long positioned himself as the only serious challenger to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the top of men's tennis.
An undisclosed medical condition has sapped Djokovic's energy for the past two years, making him more susceptible to heat and humidity—factors he already struggled with. He has dealt with on-court vomiting on multiple occasions this season.
The match played out in Arthur Ashe Stadium before close to 24,000 fans. The atmosphere darkened in the fourth and fifth sets as Djokovic's struggles mounted.
Alcaraz, who had a match later that day, voiced his surprise. "A big surprise, to be honest," Alcaraz said in a news conference. "Someone like Novak going out in the tournament in the first round, it's surprising."
After years of playing approximately 70 matches annually, Djokovic is reassessing where tennis fits in his life and working to overcome the medical condition draining his performance.
