On Sunday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 25-year-old Mariano Navone pulled off a major upset, defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round. After the four-hour, 36-minute match that gave Djokovic his first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since 2006, Navone turned his attention to the people who supported him throughout his career.
Mariano Navone Opens Up on Celebrating With Family After Stunning Novak Djokovic
Facing Djokovic was a huge challenge for Navone, especially on a court where the Serbian has won four titles. After losing the second and third sets, Navone fought back in the fourth as Djokovic struggled with nausea and cramps.
“It’s hard playing against Novak, an idol, right from the moment you walk out; it’s tough to stop seeing him as the guy on the poster,” Navone told ESPN. “I started the third set a bit nervous, respecting the figure standing across the net from me. But then I became more defiant.”
La palabra del protagonista del día: Mariano Navone, en exclusiva tras su triunfazo ante Novak Djokovic. 🇦🇷🚀
📺 Mirá el #USOpen en el Plan Premium de Disney Plus. pic.twitter.com/zh7BZDKqyH
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) August 31, 2026
The Argentine took advantage of Djokovic’s struggles, breaking early in the fourth set before dominating the fifth to seal the biggest win of his career. “It means a lot. It is a dream come true, certainly.”
Navone then turned his attention to his loved ones, including his parents, who were watching from the stands.
“Honestly, what I’m feeling right now is wonderful, having my mom and dad here… it’s all very moving,” the World No. 49 said. “I don’t want to get too emotional, but… it’s going to be quite a night. In a little while, I’ll call my sisters, my girlfriend, everyone. It’s just crazy, but I’m truly happy, so happy about this.”
Tennis was already familiar territory in the Navone household. His parents, Luis Navone and Analía Vizzón, and his sisters, Lucía and Pilar, all played the sport, though not professionally, and Mariano started playing at just three years old. The Serb was one of his idols as well.
Meanwhile, it was the first time in Djokovic’s 20 US Open appearances that he was knocked out in the first round. With the loss, Margaret Court’s record of 25 Grand Slam titles remains out of Djokovic’s reach. The defeat also followed his early exit in Cincinnati, where he lost his opening match to another Argentine, Thiago Agustin Tirante, suggesting his struggles this summer were more than just a one-off.
Among Navone’s notable results this year were his semifinal victory over Casper Ruud at the Geneva Open and his second-round win over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Italian Open. With two days to recover, Navone will next face either Stan Wawrinka or Matteo Berrettini in the second round.
