Novak Djokovic’s 2026 U.S. Open campaign ended unexpectedly early on Sunday night with a five-set loss to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, marking the Serbian star’s earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years. The match, held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, concluded after nearly four and a half hours with a scoreline of 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in favor of Navone. This marked Djokovic’s first opening-round defeat at the U.S. Open and extended his drought without a major title to three years.

The 39-year-old Djokovic, a holder of a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, entered the tournament seeded fourth but struggled visibly throughout the match due to ongoing physical ailments. Early on, he took a 3-0 lead and served three aces in the first two games, showing flashes of his usual dominance. However, Navone, ranked within the top 50 and better known for his clay-court success, steadily wore down Djokovic with long rallies and persistent defense, particularly as the conditions shifted. Rain led to the roof being closed and air conditioning activated, but Djokovic’s physical issues became increasingly apparent.

Midway through the first set, Djokovic began displaying signs of distress, frequently moving an ice pack over his face, head, and neck during a rain delay. His struggles intensified as the match progressed; he vomited courtside during the third set and showed visible cramping, particularly in his left foot. A medical timeout in the fourth set allowed trainers to massage his lower back, but Djokovic grimaced through shots and committed 70 unforced errors over the course of the match.

Djokovic later revealed that he has been managing a medical condition for several years that worsens in hot and humid conditions, often leading to vomiting and cramping. He acknowledged these problems have affected his performance throughout the season, including recent losses at the Cincinnati Open and earlier at the French Open. Despite these physical challenges, he reached the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semifinal this year, maintaining that when healthy, he can still compete at the highest level.

Navone’s relentless play—characterized by pushing Djokovic around the court and extending rallies—exploited the 39-year-old’s waning stamina. At one point, Djokovic appeared to falter physically during a critical game in the final set, limping and grimacing. Emotional moments occurred as Djokovic’s family, including his wife Jelena and children Stefan and Tara, watched courtside. After the match, Djokovic expressed uncertainty about resolving his health issues but emphasized his efforts to continue competing.

The defeat has prompted speculation about Djokovic’s future in professional tennis as he approaches his 40s. Although the Serbian champion has not announced any retirement plans, many view the upcoming 2027 Australian Open—where he holds a record 10 titles—as a potential farewell tournament. Djokovic himself has acknowledged the increasing difficulty of sustaining peak performance in the physically demanding best-of-five-set format and suggested that when fully fit, he still considers himself capable of ranking among the top five players globally.

For now, Djokovic’s career faces an uncertain path following a rare and sobering defeat that underscored the toll of physical strain and age on one of tennis’s greatest competitors.