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Enable Cookies<\/a> \n With victory over Novak Djokovic, Mariano Navone has now…\n <\/p>\n \u2705 become the first player to defeat Djokovic in the first round at the US Open<\/p>\n \u2705 become the first to defeat Djokovic in the first round at a Grand Slam since Paul Goldstein (Australian Open 2006)<\/p>\n \u2705 claimed a first Top 10 win at Grand Slams<\/p>\n Navone ended the Serbian’s bid for a fifth US Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown as he struggled with physical problems in \u200coppressive humidity.<\/p>\n The Serbian was 42-12 in five-set matches, while Navone was 0-4 but Djokovic was unable to battle through as he struggled to move at times and vomited on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n With this defeat, the question now lingers as to whether this was Djokovic’s final match at this or any Grand Slam.<\/p>\n “I didn’t enjoy myself,” Djokovic said. “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me.<\/p>\n “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 started to collapse, basically cramping and pain.<\/p>\n “The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out. Can the issue be fixed? I don’t know. I’m trying, man. I’m trying. Let’s see.”<\/p>\n Monterosa<\/p>\n This content is provided by Monterosa, which may be using cookies and other technologies. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Monterosa cookies. Enable Cookies<\/a> How an ailing Djokovic crashed out at Flushing Meadows… <\/p>\n Image: The last time the Serbian great had been seen on a tennis court, in Cincinnati two weeks ago, he was collapsing to his knees and being sick into a towel.<\/p>\n After that defeat by Thiago Tirante, Djokovic revealed he had a “health issue” which he has been dealing with “for many years”, and which affects him in heat and humidity.<\/p>\n It was certainly warm in New York but by no means Cincinnati levels, yet Djokovic’s cheeks were already red and his hair drenched in sweat midway through the first set, which he had led 3-0 but lost in a tie-break.<\/p>\n Having already successfully lobbied to have the roof closed, and with his wife, Jelena, and kids watching from the stands, Djokovic hit back late in the second set – after throwing up by the courtside towel box – with the crucial break for 6-5 and then serving it out.<\/p>\n He was sick again midway through the third – despite the air conditioning switched on – but still took his one chance to break serve as he moved one set away from victory.<\/p>\n Djokovic vomited again at the start of the fourth before breaking once more for 2-1, but Navone – a 25-year-old from Argentina who earlier this year won his first ATP singles title – did not go away.<\/p>\n After firing a shot wide in the fourth set, Djokovic landed awkwardly and dropped his racket before all but conceding the fourth set.<\/p>\n \n Is the greatest era of men\u2019s tennis is fading?\n <\/p>\n This is the first time that we haven\u2019t seen Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal in the second round of a Grand Slam since 2003<\/p>\n 23 years<\/p>\n Djokovic appeared to be cramping up and he could barely move as Navone struck back, winning just one more game in a dramatic defeat.<\/p>\n The Serbian, who was holding back tears at one point in the fifth set, ended up making 70 unforced errors in a painful performance that ended minutes before midnight in New York.<\/p>\n “I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match,” he added.<\/p>\n “I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.<\/p>\n “When it comes to the match itself and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable. I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.”<\/p>\n He will fall out of the top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time in eight years.<\/p>\n Tale of the Tape: Navone vs Djokovic Image: “It was very tough for me because you are playing with the ‘GOAT’ on this court,” said Navone, who idolised Djokovic growing up.<\/p>\n “For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court. This is an amazing court and the biggest stage. It’s amazing, the way we play. I mean, five sets. I’m very happy. I don’t know. What can I say?”<\/p>\n The US Open is live on Sky Sports from August 30. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW<\/a> and the Sky Sports App<\/a>. You can also watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September live on Sky Sports. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic fell at the first hurdle as his tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam came to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":755296,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[101,118,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-755295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tennis","tag-sports","tag-tennis","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=755295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/755296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=755295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=755295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=755295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\n Allow Cookies Once<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Djokovic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/skysports-novak-djokovic-tennis_7336298.jpg\")
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\n Djokovic gestures to the crowd after exiting the US Open<\/p>\n![\"Mariano](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/skysports-navone-djokovic-stats_7336308.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Navone](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/skysports-mariano-navone-tennis_7336299.jpg\")
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\n Navone revelled in the biggest win of his career<\/p>\n