Djokovic in tears during US Open first-round exit

Age and Humidity Conspire: Djokovic Falls in US Open Opener

Constantvpn.com – For nineteen consecutive appearances at Flushing Meadows, Novak Djokovic had never dropped a first-round match at the US Open. That unbroken streak ended on a sweltering New York night when Argentina’s Mariano Navone, ranked 49th in the world, dismantled the four-time champion of the tournament in five sets: 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The result marked the first time the 39-year-old Serbian legend had been eliminated in the opening round of any Grand Slam since 2006, and it arrived with a visible emotional toll that left spectators and commentators alike stunned.

A Body Pushed Past Its Limits

The match was less a tennis contest than a study in physical deterioration. Djokovic, seeded fourth, appeared nauseated from the earliest stages, and at one point had to vomit into a towel bin between points. What began as a promising first set — he broke Navone’s serve immediately and raced to a 4-1 lead — unraveled after a punishing rally drained his energy. His serve speed dropped, his groundstrokes lost punch, and he summoned the on-court physician after the ninth game for medication to manage what he later described as a recurring “health condition” that worsens in oppressive heat and humidity.

The first-set tiebreak, reached after an hour and 13 minutes of grinding play, went to Navone. An unsettling silence settled over Arthur Ashe Stadium as the crowd watched the four-time US Open champion bow his head and bend over between points, visibly depleted. When the roof closed and temperatures dropped, Djokovic found enough residual fire to level the match, breaking Navone’s serve for 5-4 in the third set. That position — a break in the third set — is precisely where prime Djokovic would typically seize control, even while managing minor physical complaints. He could not do so here.

The Emotional Aftermath

After the final point, Djokovic managed a brief, gracious smile as he congratulated the 25-year-old Navone on what will rank among the most significant wins of his career. But the composure lasted only moments. Walking back toward the locker room, the Serbian appeared on the verge of tears again, unable to sustain the brave face he had shown at the net.

“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. I don’t want to take too much out of Mariano’s win. Congrats to him, he’s a nice guy and a fighter — but I didn’t enjoy myself.”

Speaking to reporters afterward, Djokovic was candid about the physical ordeal:

“It’s something that I have been carrying pretty much every match this year — vomiting, throwing up. And then my whole body starts to collapse basically, cramping and pain — the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”

He called the recurring issue a “serious issue,” one that has “bothered” him in humid conditions over several years. Two weeks earlier at the Cincinnati Open, he had suffered a similar collapse in a shock early-round exit to fellow Argentine Thiago Tirante, also in oppressive North American hard-court conditions.

What the Loss Means for the Record Books

The defeat extinguished Djokovic’s latest attempt at a standalone 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would have moved him clear of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24. With the year already deep into September, the window for such a milestone is narrowing rapidly. He had reached at least the semi-finals at six of the previous seven major championships entering New York, making the manner of this collapse all the more alarming for his supporters.

The timing compounds the concern. World number one Jannik Sinner is sidelined with injury, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is attempting a comeback from a long-term wrist problem. Many observers had flagged this US Open as a realistic opportunity for Djokovic to reclaim the top of the draw. That opportunity has now passed.

Historically, the loss also places Djokovic in rare company: he becomes only the fourth man in history to have competed at the US Open on 20 occasions, and his first-round exit at that milestone underscores how the competitive landscape has shifted. Navone, who had never progressed beyond the second round in New York before this match, will carry the result as a defining moment of his career.

Context for the Reader

Djokovic’s career spans more than two decades at the highest level, and his record of 24 major singles titles remains the men’s benchmark. Yet the physical demands of modern professional tennis — longer rallies, heavier balls, more travel — have compressed the effective competitive lifespan of even the most durable athletes. A 39-year-old body that once shrugged off humidity and fatigue now signals distress within minutes of sustained exertion in tropical conditions. Whether this represents a temporary setback or the beginning of a longer decline will become clear over the coming months, but the image of a once-unstoppable competitor reduced to tears in the first round of his home-season major is one that will define this chapter of his career.