Novak Djokovic Loses First Round US Open Match
The Story
Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in over two decades on Sunday, falling in the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone.
The 39-year-old lost in a five-set encounter at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic had arrived at the tournament aiming for a fifth title and a record 25th major championship. He was reportedly dealing with illness and injury during the match, with some reports indicating he despised every moment of his defeat and broke down in tears. Navone, ranked 48th in the ATP singles rankings, became the first Argentine to beat Djokovic at a major since 2005.
Other winners on Sunday included Pegula, Medvedev, and Kostyuk. Djokovic's loss marks the first time he has been eliminated in the opening round of the U.S.
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