Novak Djokovic's attempt to secure a 25th Grand Slam title ended with a five-set defeat to unseeded Argentinian player Mariano Navone at the US Open on Sunday night. Djokovic lost the match with scores of 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, in a contest that lasted four hours and 36 minutes. This defeat marks Djokovic's earliest exit from a Grand Slam in two decades, since the 2006 Australian Open, and he had never lost in the first round at the US Open before.
Djokovic, who is 39 years old, struggled with physical ailments throughout the match, making 70 unforced errors. He reported experiencing vomiting and cramping, which affected his performance. During a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, he received treatment for his lower back and took medication provided by a doctor.
After the match, Djokovic expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, stating, "I didn’t enjoy myself. I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me." He reflected on the challenges he faced, saying, "It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end, and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out."
This match coincided with the 21st anniversary of Djokovic's US Open debut, leading to speculation about whether it might be his final appearance at a Grand Slam. He mentioned he was "trying to address really what’s going on and how far I can go this way."
Despite early leads in the match, Djokovic was unable to maintain his advantage and ultimately lost to Navone, who described playing against Djokovic as a dream come true. Navone, who won his first ATP singles title earlier this year, stated, "[It] was very tough for me because you are playing with the ‘GOAT’ [greatest of all time] on this court. For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court."
Djokovic's defeat follows a recent loss in the second round at the Cincinnati hardcourt tournament, marking a challenging period for the player as he contemplates his future in the sport.