Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest-ever Grand Slam exit, losing in five sets to Argentina's Mariano Navone at the US Open despite visible physical struggles and a late fightback.
اضافة اعلان
Novak Djokovic suffered the first opening-round exit of his Grand Slam career, falling to Argentina's Mariano Navone 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a grueling four-hour, 36-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The defeat marked the 39-year-old's earliest Grand Slam departure since 2006 and abruptly ended his pursuit of a record-extending 25th major title, stunning a crowd that had packed the stadium to see the sport's most decorated champion.
Physical struggles plagued Djokovic throughout the marathon match, echoing troubles that had surfaced in a recent loss at the Cincinnati Open. He received treatment during a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, had his lower back massaged, and grimaced through several points as the humidity and length of the contest took their toll. Despite the visible pain, Djokovic clawed his way back into the match at times, winning the second and third sets to push it to a decider, and even appeared emotional as fans roared to urge him toward another late-career comeback.
In the end, Navone's youth and composure proved decisive. The 25-year-old Argentine, who has idolized Djokovic since childhood, pulled away in the final two sets as his opponent's energy faded, closing out the biggest win of his career. The result leaves Djokovic's Grand Slam future increasingly uncertain and marks one of the most shocking upsets of the tournament's opening day.
The Serb is set to leave the TOP 10 for the first time since 2018.
