Novak Djokovic Loses in US Open First Round for the First Time in His Career

Novak Djokovic lost in the opening round of the US Open for the first time in his career on Sunday night, falling to 25-year-old Argentine Mariano Navone in a five-set marathon that lasted four hours and 36 minutes. The 39-year-old Djokovic dropped the match 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, marking his earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.

The match took a physical toll on Djokovic, who was seen vomiting at least once and later appeared to be cramping, grabbing at his left foot in visible discomfort. He received a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, during which a doctor brought him pills and his lower back was massaged, but he was unable to recover enough to close out what would have been the 43rd five-set victory of his career.

For Navone, ranked well outside the world's elite, the win marked his first five-set victory on the ATP Tour, coming in the same year he claimed his first ATP singles title. The result sends shockwaves through the men's draw, eliminating one of the sport's most decorated champions before the tournament's second round for the first time in his US Open history.