Mariano Navone defeats Novak Djokovic in US Open first round
20 sources • 5 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 12:30 PM
Last updated Sep 1, 2026

Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open on Sunday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match ended with a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 score in favor of Navone after four hours and 36 minutes of play. Djokovic struggled with visible physical discomfort, including vomiting and back pain, during the encounter. This result marks the first time in his career that the 39-year-old has been eliminated in the opening round of the tournament. The loss also ends a streak of 78 consecutive first-round Grand Slam wins for the four-time champion. Navone advances to the second round, where he will face the winner of the match between Matteo Berrettini and Stan Wawrinka on September 2.
- •Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
- •The match lasted four hours and 36 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- •Djokovic committed 70 unforced errors and required medical attention for physical ailments.
- •Navone faces the winner of the Berrettini-Wawrinka match on September 2.
- •This was Djokovic's first opening-round loss in 78 Grand Slam appearances.
- 12:30 PMYahoo Sports — The Most Shocking Upset of the 2026 US Open First Round Isn’t the One You Think
- 5:40 AMYahoo Sports — US Open 2026 men’s and women’s seeds list and tracker
- 9:48 PMYahoo Sports — Novak Djokovic’s first-round upset loss blows open the US Open men’s bracket even further
- 5:33 PMDefector.com — Novak Djokovic Pukes And Crumbles At The U.S. Open - Defector
- 8:52 AMAbcnews.com — Novak Djokovic loses in opening round of US Open for first time, falling in 5 sets to Mariano Navone - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- 6:01 AMESPN — What went wrong for Novak Djokovic at the US Open
- 5:25 AMYahoo Sports — Poorly Djokovic crashes out of US Open first round
- 5:19 AMESPN — Djokovic loses 5-set marathon in US Open shocker
"Mariano Navone wins 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to end Serb’s hopes Djokovic vomits numerous times and has to fight off cramps The first night session of the US Open this year was approaching the three hour mark when Novak Djokovic walked briskly to the corner of the vast Arthur Ashe Stadium court, bent down and vomited the contents of his stomach straight into the towel bin. This was neither the first nor the last time that Djokovic threw up during an excruciating four hours and 36 minutes of suffering, and his miserable night ended around midnight with the 24-time grand slam champion in tears as he was defeated 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Mariano Navone in the first round. Continue reading...
"NEW YORK — The first major upset of the 2026 US Open came to its merciful end in the waning minutes of the tournament’s opening day. Over the course of a grueling four-hour, 36-minute first-round loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium late Sunday night, 39-year-old Novak Djokovic battled not only a gritty opponent in unseeded Mariano Navone but his own body. Djokovic — the Open’s No. 4 seed who holds the ...
"Ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years on Sunday, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open.It also ended his run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories, a streak stretching all the way back to Djokovic's 2006 loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 1, 2026, 12:30 PMThe Most Shocking Upset of the 2026 US Open First Round Isn’t the One You Think
Yes, Novak Djokovic lost in the first round of the US Open. A 39-year-old playing his first Grand Slam match on hard in months, seeded fourth on his reputation more so than his form, went down against Mariano Navone over four hours and 36 minutes and ended a run of 84 consecutive Grand Slam wins …
- Yahoo SportsSep 1, 2026, 5:40 AMUS Open 2026 men’s and women’s seeds list and tracker
Novak Djokovic was the first of the big names to suffer a surprise exit - his earliest at a grand slam in more than 20 years
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 9:48 PMNovak Djokovic’s first-round upset loss blows open the US Open men’s bracket even further
NEW YORK — The first major upset of the 2026 US Open came to its merciful end in the waning minutes of the tournament’s opening day. Over the course of a grueling four-hour, 36-minute first-round loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium late Sunday night, 39-year-old Novak Djokovic battled not only a gritty opponent in unseeded Mariano Navone but his own body. Djokovic — the Open’s No. 4 seed who holds the ...
- Defector.comAug 31, 2026, 5:33 PMNovak Djokovic Pukes And Crumbles At The U.S. Open - Defector
For the first time in over 20 years, Novak Djokovic lost his first-round match at a Slam. On Sunday he fell in five sets to world No. 49 Mariano Navone, a 25-year-old clay-court specialist appearing in just his third-ever U.S. Open main draw. In other words, …
- Abcnews.comAug 31, 2026, 8:52 AMNovak Djokovic loses in opening round of US Open for first time, falling in 5 sets to Mariano Navone - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
Novak Djokovic grinded through physical and internal ailments, made one mistake after another and could not find what it took to beat a feisty, younger opponent who was not intimidated under the lights against tennis’ most decorated player
- ESPNAug 31, 2026, 6:01 AMWhat went wrong for Novak Djokovic at the US Open
On Sunday night, Novak Djokovic was upset by Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open. What happened -- and what it means for the tournament.
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 5:25 AMPoorly Djokovic crashes out of US Open first round
Ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years on Sunday, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open.It also ended his run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories, a streak stretching all the way back to Djokovic's 2006 loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
- ESPNAug 31, 2026, 5:19 AMDjokovic loses 5-set marathon in US Open shocker
Novak Djokovic, 39, is out of the US Open after a first-round defeat to Mariano Navone on Sunday night, losing 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a five-set marathon that lasted four hours and 36 minutes. He had never lost in the first round at the US Open.
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 4:49 AMNovak Djokovic loses in opening round of US Open for first time, falling in 5 sets to Mariano Navone
Novak Djokovic grinded through physical and internal ailments, made one mistake after another and could not find what it took to beat a feisty, younger opponent who was not intimidated under the lights against tennis’ most decorated player.
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 4:47 AMDjokovic falls in US Open first round, earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years
Ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years on Sunday, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open.It also ended his run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories, a streak stretching all the way back to Djokovic's 2006 loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
- The Guardian SportAug 31, 2026, 4:43 AMAiling Novak Djokovic falls in US Open first round in earliest grand slam exit in 20 years
Mariano Navone wins 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to end Serb’s hopes Djokovic vomits numerous times and has to fight off cramps The first night session of the US Open this year was approaching the three hour mark when Novak Djokovic walked briskly to the corner of the vast Arthur Ashe Stadium court, bent down and vomited the contents of his stomach straight into the towel bin. This was neither the first nor the last time that Djokovic threw up during an excruciating four hours and 36 minutes of suffering, and his miserable night ended around midnight with the 24-time grand slam champion in tears as he was defeated 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Mariano Navone in the first round. Continue reading...
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 4:33 AMDjokovic crashes out of US Open in five-set defeat to Navone
Novak Djokovic crashed out in the first round of the US Open after a five-set, near five-hour ordeal during which he was repeatedly sick on court. The 39-year-old looked physically spent throughout the match and was regularly doubled over in pain, but still took Argentina's Mariano Navone the distance.
- CBS SportsAug 31, 2026, 4:17 AM2026 US Open results: Novak Djokovic suffers first round upset to Mariano Navone while battling illness
Djokovic's lost his first round match at a grand slam for the first time since 2006
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 4:07 AMNovak Djokovic first round US Open loss to Mariano Navone hard to watch
Overcoming his body, the elements, and Mariano Navone proved to be too tall of a task for Novak Djokovic who lost his first round US Open match in five sets
- Yahoo SportsAug 31, 2026, 3:58 AMFour-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic ousted in first round by Mariano Navone
The 2026 US Open defeat ended Novak Djokovic's streak of 78 consecutive opening-round wins at a Grand Slam.
- Sky Sports—Tearful Djokovic falls at first hurdle in shock US Open exit
Novak Djokovic fell at the first hurdle as his tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam came to a shock end to Argentine Mariano Navone in a five-set epic at the US Open.
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