Novak Djokovic’s 2026 US Open campaign was a surprisingly brief one. The four-time champion appeared out of sorts as he battled Argentina’s resilient Mariano Navone under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, August 30.
Djokovic ultimately fell in five sets, marking the first time in his 20 US Open appearances that he has suffered an opening-round defeat. Following the grueling encounter, he opened up about his raw emotions while briefly addressing the physical issue that has troubled him for some time.
Novak Djokovic Opens Up After US Open Defeat
The Djokovic who showed up at Flushing Meadows this week was not the player tennis fans have come to know. Throughout his illustrious career, the Serb has established himself as one of the most reliable players in five-set battles, often finding a way to come out on top. Sunday, however, was different.
The Serb opened the match in typical fashion, earning an early break and racing to a 4-1 lead against Navone. However, the momentum quickly shifted as the 25-year-old erased the deficit before ultimately taking the set in a tiebreak.
After nine games in the opening set, Djokovic was seen taking some pills as his physical discomfort became increasingly evident. He and Navone battled neck and neck throughout the second set, but the Serb managed to edge ahead and level the match. Djokovic then took the third set, but his form deteriorated dramatically in the two sets that followed.
The 39-year-old was seen vomiting multiple times during the grueling battle, while the final set saw the Serb fight through tears as his physical struggles intensified. He ultimately ran out of answers, falling to Navone 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 after four hours and 36 minutes.
“I didn’t enjoy myself,” he told the media after his exit. “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me.”
“It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year — vomiting, throwing up, serious issue there. And then my whole body starts to collapse, basically, cramping and pain,” he added. “Yeah, the back just gave up in the end, and the shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out. I was a break up in the fourth but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match.”
“When it comes to match itself and overall feeling of how I felt with body and playing, it was really not enjoyable. I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.
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The 2026 US Open was Djokovic’s seventh tournament of the season. At the Grand Slams, the Serb reached the Australian Open final, the third round at Roland-Garros, and the Wimbledon semifinals.
He also featured in Indian Wells, Rome, and Cincinnati but suffered early defeats at all three events. His Cincinnati campaign ended against Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante, with Djokovic once again struggling physically as the heat and humidity took their toll.
