Tennis legend , Novak Djokovic, suffered a stunning first-round exit from the US Open on Sunday after losing to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a gruelling five-set battle.
The 39-year-old Serbian, seeded fourth at the tournament, was beaten 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 after four hours and 36 minutes on court.
The defeat marks the first time Djokovic has lost in the opening round of the US Open.
It is also his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years, since his first-round defeat at the 2006 Australian Open.
Djokovic appeared far from his best throughout the contest, committing 70 unforced errors and struggling physically as the match progressed.
He took medical attention between the fourth and fifth sets after appearing to suffer from cramps and discomfort in his left foot.
He also required treatment to his lower back and was seen taking medication during the match.
Despite taking early leads in the opening set, Djokovic was unable to maintain his advantage as Navone fought back to claim the tiebreak.
The 25-year-old Argentine then showed remarkable composure against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, recovering after Djokovic took the second and third sets to dominate the final two.
Navone, who won his first ATP singles title earlier this year, secured the biggest victory of his career and celebrated an emotional breakthrough on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
“This means a lot. It’s a dream come true,” Navone said after the match.
The result extends a difficult period for Djokovic, who also suffered a first-round defeat in Cincinnati earlier this month. His last tournament appearance before that was at Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-finals before losing to Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic’s latest defeat also raises fresh questions about his future at the Grand Slam level, with the Serbian now facing uncertainty over whether he will return to compete at the sport’s biggest tournaments.
The loss came exactly 21 years after Djokovic made his US Open debut.
