NEW YORK — In one of the most stunning opening-round upsets in Grand Slam history, Argentina’s Mariano Navone defeated four-time champion Novak Djokovic in a dramatic five-set marathon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Navone outlasted the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a grueling contest that lasted 4 hours and 36 minutes. The defeat snapped Djokovic’s 20-year streak of passing the first round at Grand Slam tournaments, a record dating back to the 2006 Australian Open.

Match Summary & Key Moments

• Early Struggle: Navone grabbed the opening set in a tight tiebreak before Djokovic rallied to take the second and third sets, leading a break up in the fourth.
• Physical Toll: As the match wore on into the night, Djokovic suffered severe physical distress—struggling with vomiting, body cramps, and back and shoulder pain.
• The Turnaround: Navone capitalized on Djokovic’s compromised movement, storming through the fourth set 6-2 and dominating the deciding fifth set 6-1. On match point, the Argentine chased down a drop volley and hit the winner into an open court to lock in the biggest victory of his career.

Djokovic Reflects on Physical Collapse

In his post-match press conference, a visibly emotional Djokovic spoke candidly about his physical struggles on court.

“It was an awful feeling on the court for me. Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. The back just gave up in the end and shoulder… I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.”

— Novak Djokovic

Despite trailing in the fifth set, the Arthur Ashe crowd rallied behind the 39-year-old, bringing Djokovic to tears during a late changeover. He expressed deep gratitude to the New York fans for trying to lift him during difficult moments, even though he fell short of pursuing a historic 25th Grand Slam title.