Navone Wins In Five Sets To Hand Djokovic First Ever U.S. Open First Round Exit

For the first time in 20 years, Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam. 

The 24-time major champion and four-time U.S. Open champion was eliminated in the opening round in Queens for the first time in his career on Sunday night. Argentina’s Mariano Navone recorded the biggest win of his career with a 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

“It’s amazing,” Navone said. “The way we played, five sets against the GOAT. I’m very happy. I don’t know, what can I say?”

As the night began, it looked as if things would go according to expectations as Djokovic raced out to a 3-0 advantage in the opening set. But the unforced errors began to pile up for Djokovic, 17 in total in the opening set, and Navone was able to bring the set back on serve, and it eventually headed into a tiebreaker. The final of Djokovic’s 17 unforced errors in the first set was a missed forehand on set point as Navone jumped ahead early. 

Djokovic responded to win the second and third sets, but it was evident that he was laboring. He even vomited in the garbage can next to his bench on a changeover, and cramping, in his leg and bag, were visibly hampering his ability to serve. With that, Navone broke twice early in the fourth set and forced a deciding fifth set, and continued controlling play in the fifth set as Djokovic continued to break down. 

“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” said Djokovic. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. The back gave up in the end, and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”

But Djokovic made sure to give credit to Navone, who scored only his second main draw win at the U.S. Open.

“I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But I didn’t enjoy myself,” he added.

Navone now awaits the winner of 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. Either way, Navone will soak up this victory as long as he can. 

“It’s unbelievable. It means a lot for me. It’s a dream come true, I mean seriously, 100 percent,” Navone said, before adding: “Now I have to recover.”