Djokovic breaks down in tears during US Open first-round exit
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Novak Djokovic broke down in tears after crashing out of the US Open in the first round, losing to Argentina's Mariano Navone and prompting fresh concerns about the 39-year-old's ability to keep competing at the top of the sport. Struggling physically throughout in humid New York conditions, he vomited into a towel bin and looked increasingly distressed as the match wore on, though he still fought back from two sets down before losing in five. It marked his first-ever opening-round exit at Flushing Meadows and his first first-round Grand Slam defeat since 2006, ending his latest bid to reach a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The fourth seed lost 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 to the world number 49, having led 4-1 early in the first set before wilting badly, calling for a doctor and tablets as his body began to "collapse". Speaking afterwards, Djokovic described a recurring "serious issue" involving vomiting and cramping that has affected him in hot conditions all year, including a similar early exit in Cincinnati two weeks earlier, while graciously praising Navone's performance despite his own evident distress.
- Djokovic lost in five sets to world number 49 Mariano Navone.
- First US Open first-round exit; first Slam opener loss since 2006.
- He cited a recurring illness causing vomiting and physical collapse.
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Djokovic is a 39-year-old Serbian tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, having won 24 Grand Slam singles titles. He has been chasing a record 25th major, which would move him closer to Margaret Court's all-time record, but has shown signs of fading physically in recent months as he competes against a younger generation of rivals.
The US Open is one of tennis's four Grand Slam tournaments, held annually in New York, and a first-round exit for a player of Djokovic's stature is highly unusual. His opponent, Mariano Navone, is a much lower-ranked Argentine player, and Djokovic had also struggled with an apparent health issue at the Cincinnati Open shortly before this tournament.
The result matters because it raises fresh questions about how much longer Djokovic can continue competing at the highest level, and it affects the wider landscape of men's tennis, where younger stars have increasingly challenged the dominance of veterans like him.
More coverage
- BBC Sport — Watch: Djokovic overcome with emotion during US Open loss
- Fox News — Novak Djokovic suffers stunning defeat in first round of US Open after trying to battle through ailments