Novak Djokovic arrived in New York chasing another piece of tennis history. One night later, the chase was already over.
Argentina’s Mariano Navone stunned the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday night, sending Djokovic out in the opening round of the 2026 US Open and producing the tournament’s first seismic result.
For Djokovic, the defeat was bigger than a bad night. It was his first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam since 2006 and the first time in 20 US Open appearances that he had fallen at the first hurdle. His bid to reach a record 25 major singles titles was finished before the tournament had properly settled into its first week.
And the manner of the collapse will drive the debate far beyond the scoreline.
Djokovic recovered from losing the first set to take the next two and appeared to have wrestled control away from Navone. But the match turned sharply across the final two sets as the 39-year-old struggled physically and Navone accelerated.
The Argentine took the fourth set 6-2 and then ripped through the deciding set 6-1, closing out the biggest victory of his career on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic later revealed the scale of the physical problems he faced.
He said he had been dealing with vomiting and cramping, while also experiencing back and shoulder trouble during the match. He told reporters that his body began to deteriorate as the contest developed and acknowledged that he had even considered retiring earlier in the night.
The physical distress does not erase what Navone did.
Ranked No. 49 and better known for his work on clay, the 25-year-old stayed alive when Djokovic threatened to impose himself, survived the momentum swings and then attacked relentlessly when the Serbian’s level dropped.
Djokovic committed 70 unforced errors across a contest lasting four hours and 36 minutes the longest first-round Grand Slam match of his career while Navone converted six of his 17 break-point opportunities.
Navone’s victory was not simply the consequence of Djokovic fading.
The Argentine stayed alive when the match appeared to be moving away from him, absorbed the pressure of facing one of the sport’s greatest competitors and then attacked decisively when the balance shifted.
For Djokovic, the defeat ends another attempt to reach a record 25th Grand Slam singles title before the US Open has even reached its second round.
For Navone, it is the result that changes his tournament immediately: a five-set victory over a 24-time major champion on Arthur Ashe Stadium and a place in the second round.
Djokovic came to New York chasing history.
Navone made sure he left the opening round carrying the tournament’s first major shock instead.
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