A monumental upset shook the tennis world in New York as veteran champion and record 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic suffered a first-round exit at the US Open for the very first time in his illustrious career. The top-tier athlete was bested by Argentina's Mariano Navone following a draining five-set encounter that pushed both competitors to their absolute physical limits on the court.
Physical Struggles and Long Marathon Battle
The grueling Sunday contest stretched across four hours and 36 minutes, culminating in a scoreline of 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in favor of Navone. Throughout the match, the fourth-seeded and four-time champion looked visibly distressed as he battled physical ailments, including vomiting on the court and heavy fatigue in his legs, which contributed to a staggering 70 unforced errors. His wife Jelena watched anxiously from the stands as the veteran struggled to find his rhythm under the bright stadium lights.
Shattering an Unbeaten Opening Record
Before this tournament, Djokovic held a flawless 19-0 record in opening-round matches at Flushing Meadows and had not dropped an initial Grand Slam fixture since the 2006 Australian Open. Reflecting on the difficult match, he admitted that he could not find comfort or enjoyment in his play, noting that physical discomfort began hindering his movement early in the fourth game. Coming 21 years after his tournament debut, this defeat has raised questions about his future at the iconic New York major. The match had also faced a brief interruption during the first set as officials closed the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof due to incoming rain.
A Career Milestone for Mariano Navone
For Navone, who grew up idolizing the Serbian legend, the victory marked a defining moment in his professional journey. Expressing his overwhelming joy after the win, he noted the immense challenge of facing an all-time great on such a grand stage, calling the five-set battle the greatest experience of his career thus far. Meanwhile, women's third seed Jessica Pegula advanced smoothly by defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2, securing her tour-leading 46th victory of the season to set up a clash against wildcard Sofia Kenin.
Results Across the Draws and Notable Exits
The opening day featured several notable matches and unexpected turns. Kenin triumphed over 46-year-old Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6 (6) in a late-night session that stretched past midnight. In the men's division, 2021 champion and seventh seed Daniil Medvedev defeated Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, while 20th seed Tommy Paul bounced back from a first-set tiebreak loss to defeat Coleman Wong 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Other winners included Alexander Bublik, Elina Svitolina, Jasmine Paolini, and Leylah Fernandez, while Marin Cilic and Casper Ruud were forced to withdraw due to injuries, and Barbora Krejcikova fell to Kamilla Rakhimova.
