Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a historic 25th Grand Slam title has ended in stunning fashion at the 2026 US Open.
The 39-year-old Serbian star was knocked out in the first round by unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone after a dramatic five-set match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Navone defeated Djokovic:
7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
The match lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes.
But the result itself tells only part of the story.
Djokovic struggled physically during the match, dealing with vomiting, back pain, shoulder problems and cramping as his condition deteriorated.
The defeat is Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since 2006 and immediately raises another question:
What happened to Novak Djokovic — and what does this mean for his future?
Novak Djokovic loses in US Open first round
Very few expected Djokovic’s 2026 US Open campaign to end on the opening night.
Djokovic entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed and a four-time US Open champion.
More importantly, he arrived in New York chasing history.
Djokovic already owns 24 Grand Slam singles titles and was attempting to win No. 25, which would have moved him beyond the all-time major mark he shares with Margaret Court.
Standing in his way in the first round was Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
Before the match, the official US Open preview heavily favored Djokovic. Navone was entering only his third US Open main draw and the two players had never met before.
Instead, one of the biggest shocks of the tournament happened immediately.
Who won Djokovic vs. Navone?
Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets:
| Set | Djokovic | Navone |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | 7 | 5 |
| 3 | 6 | 4 |
| 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 1 | 6 |
Final score: Navone def. Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Djokovic actually recovered after losing the opening-set tiebreak.
He won the second and third sets to take control of the match.
But everything changed later.
Navone dominated the final two sets, winning them 6-2 and 6-1 to complete the biggest victory of his career.
What happened to Novak Djokovic?
This is likely to be one of the biggest questions surrounding the match.
Djokovic was visibly struggling physically.
Reuters reported that he dealt with several issues during the contest, including:
- vomiting
- back pain
- shoulder trouble
- cramping
Those problems increasingly affected his movement and serve as the match progressed.
This also was not the first fitness concern surrounding Djokovic recently.
Before the US Open, Djokovic had suffered an early exit at the Cincinnati Open after struggling with the heat and requiring a medical timeout.
He nevertheless arrived in New York saying the extra preparation time could help him physically and mentally prepare for the US Open.
Unfortunately, his body again became a major part of the story.
Was Novak Djokovic sick?
Djokovic clearly experienced physical distress during the match, including vomiting.
However, it is important not to turn those symptoms into an unsupported medical diagnosis.
Djokovic spoke after the defeat about the health problems that have troubled him during the season, but there has been no basis to diagnose a specific illness simply from what happened on court.
The accurate conclusion for now is:
Djokovic suffered significant physical problems during the match that affected his performance.
Any more specific diagnosis should wait for confirmation from Djokovic or his medical team.
Why is Djokovic’s loss so historic?
The significance goes far beyond one first-round defeat.
According to Reuters, this was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since 2006.
That means more than two decades have passed since he suffered such an early exit at a major.
Djokovic had also enjoyed extraordinary success at Flushing Meadows.
Before this tournament, he had made 19 previous US Open appearances and failed to reach the quarterfinals only five times — with two of those early exits occurring in his first two appearances.
He has won the US Open four times.
His most recent Grand Slam title also came in New York in 2023.
That made the 2026 tournament particularly significant.
Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam dream ends again
The number 25 has followed Djokovic for several seasons.
He currently holds 24 major singles titles.
Winning another would give him a historic 25th Grand Slam singles championship.
The 2026 US Open represented another opportunity to achieve it.
Before the tournament, Djokovic made clear that he had not given up on that goal despite his age and recent physical challenges.
But the defeat to Navone means the wait continues.
At 39 years old, every missed Grand Slam opportunity naturally produces more questions about how many chances Djokovic has left.
Who is Mariano Navone?
The man responsible for the upset is Mariano Navone, a 25-year-old Argentine.
Navone entered the US Open unseeded.
According to the official US Open preview, this was only his third US Open main-draw appearance. His previous best result in New York was reaching the second round in 2024.
He had already shown progress during the 2026 season, winning his first career singles title on clay in Bucharest and reaching the semifinals in Geneva.
But beating Djokovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium is on another level.
Navone described defeating a player he considers the “GOAT” as a dream and celebrated what the victory meant for supporters back home in Argentina.
Is Novak Djokovic retiring?
For now, no retirement announcement has been made.
That distinction is important.
A shocking loss at age 39 combined with repeated physical problems will inevitably generate searches and speculation about Djokovic’s retirement.
But speculation is not an announcement.
In fact, immediately before the US Open, Djokovic was still speaking about his determination to pursue the record 25th Grand Slam title.
Reuters reported that he remained committed to chasing that milestone and viewed longevity and health as key priorities for continuing his career.
Therefore headlines claiming “Djokovic retires” would be inaccurate at this point.
The better question is whether his physical condition will allow him to keep challenging for Grand Slam titles.
What did Djokovic say about his health?
Djokovic acknowledged after the loss that physical problems have followed him through much of the season.
That makes the US Open defeat more significant than an isolated bad performance.
The concern is no longer simply whether Djokovic can still play elite tennis.
He clearly can.
The bigger question may be whether his body can withstand repeated four- and five-set matches over two weeks at a Grand Slam.
At 39, recovery becomes an increasingly important part of the equation.
What happens next for Novak Djokovic?
Djokovic’s immediate priority is likely to be recovery and determining the extent of the physical issues that affected him in New York.
Beyond that, several questions will follow him:
Can he remain healthy enough for another Grand Slam run?
Djokovic has continued to compete with the world’s best players, but recent physical problems are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Can he still win Grand Slam No. 25?
The goal remains possible as long as Djokovic continues playing.
But each major now carries greater significance.
Will Djokovic change his tournament schedule?
Managing his body may become even more important than accumulating matches.
Djokovic has already increasingly focused on the biggest tournaments rather than playing a full schedule.
Is retirement getting closer?
Eventually, yes — as it is for every athlete.
But there is currently no confirmed retirement announcement, and Djokovic has repeatedly demonstrated that he is reluctant to let age alone decide when his career ends.
Djokovic vs. Navone: Key facts
Winner: Mariano Navone
Loser: Novak Djokovic
Tournament: 2026 US Open
Round: First round
Score: 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Match duration: 4 hours 36 minutes
Djokovic’s age: 39
Navone’s age: 25
Djokovic Grand Slam titles: 24
Significance: Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since 2006.
Final thoughts: A shocking loss and a bigger question
Novak Djokovic has experienced painful Grand Slam defeats before.
This one feels different.
It was not a semifinal against another superstar or a five-set final with history on the line.
It happened in the first round.
Djokovic led two sets to one but eventually lost the final two sets 2-6 and 1-6 while struggling physically.
His attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam title is over for another tournament.
Mariano Navone deserves enormous credit for taking advantage of the opportunity and completing the biggest victory of his career.
But attention will now inevitably turn back to Djokovic.
At 39 years old, the question is no longer simply:
Can Novak Djokovic win another Grand Slam?
After what happened in New York, another question has become just as important:
Can his body give him enough opportunities to try?