Mariano Navone Stuns Novak Djokovic in US Open First Round

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Argentina’s Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets, handing the 24-time major champion his earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades.

Argentina’s Mariano Navone produced the biggest victory of his career on Sunday night, defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the 2026 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The five-set defeat ended Djokovic’s attempt in New York to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title and marked his first opening-round loss at the US Open. It was also his first first-round defeat at any major since the 2006 Australian Open.

Navone, ranked No. 49 in the world in the US Open’s August 31 profile, had never previously played Djokovic or competed on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The victory was also his first win in a five-set match.

Navone recovers after falling two sets to one behind

The Argentine took the opening set in a tiebreak before Djokovic responded by winning the second and third sets.

Djokovic then moved ahead early in the fourth, but Navone reversed the match, taking that set 6-2 before dominating the fifth 6-1. The official tournament bracket confirms the five-set score.

Navone said afterward that he recognized Djokovic was struggling physically in the deciding stages but concentrated on his own tactics rather than the condition of his opponent. The US Open quoted him describing the result as one of the biggest moments of his career.

The victory was especially notable given Navone’s background. The 25-year-old Argentine told the tournament that he grew up primarily on clay and did not begin playing regularly on hard courts until around 2021 or 2022.

Djokovic describes vomiting, cramps and pain

Djokovic said after the match that he had experienced significant physical problems, including vomiting, cramping and discomfort involving his back and shoulder.

Those symptoms should not be treated as an independently established medical diagnosis or as definitive proof of why he lost. They are Djokovic’s own account of his condition during the match. Reuters reported the same cluster of problems while describing how his level declined late in the contest.

That distinction matters because Navone still had to reverse a two-sets-to-one deficit and complete the victory. The match result is independently established; the precise medical effect of Djokovic’s symptoms is not.

Defeat ends Djokovic’s bid for a 25th major

Djokovic arrived in New York with 24 Grand Slam singles titles, tied for the all-time record in singles majors, and was attempting to become the first player to reach 25.

Navone’s victory ended that campaign before the second round.

The defeat was historically unusual even by Djokovic’s standards. The US Open says it was only the third time in his career that he had lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam. Marat Safin beat him in the first round of the 2005 Australian Open, while Paul-Henri Mathieu did the same at the 2006 Australian Open.

Navone will face Matteo Berrettini next

One of the immediate follow-ups identified in the initial reporting has now been resolved.

Matteo Berrettini defeated 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 on Monday and will face Navone in the second round. Reuters confirmed the matchup after Berrettini’s victory.

Navone has already beaten Berrettini in 2026, defeating the Italian at the Montreal Masters before arriving in New York, according to the US Open.

The next unresolved issue concerns Djokovic. He has described significant physical problems, but any subsequent diagnosis, withdrawal from scheduled tournaments or change to his playing calendar should be reported only after confirmation from Djokovic, his team or the relevant tournament.

For Navone, the immediate task is clearer: a second-round match against Berrettini after the most significant result of his career.