Mariano Navone had never won a five-set match at a Grand Slam. He had never shared a court with Novak Djokovic. Four hours and 36 minutes into his first-round tie on Arthur Ashe Stadium, he had done both, beating the four-time US Open champion 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the second round on Sunday night.

Djokovic came in as the fourth seed and one of the tournament favourites. He left with his 78-match streak of Grand Slam first-round wins broken, a run stretching back to a 2006 Australian Open defeat to Paul Goldstein. It is Djokovic’s earliest exit from a major in 20 years.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true, I mean seriously, 100%,” Navone said on court.

“This incredible court, the biggest stage.”

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Grand Slam debut only two years ago

Navone, 25, made his main-draw Grand Slam debut only two years ago, at Roland Garros in 2024, where he became the first man in the Open Era to be seeded in his major main-draw debut at the French Open. Before Sunday he had never gone past the third round of a major, and he arrived in New York as one of 11 Argentine men in the singles draw. His sole ATP Tour title before Sunday came at the Tiriac Open in Bucharest.

Facing his longtime idol for the first time, Navone lost the second and third sets and looked to be following a familiar Grand Slam script. Instead he converted six of his 17 break points and rallied through the final two sets as Djokovic faded physically under the closed roof.

Djokovic ill through five sets

Djokovic looked physically compromised for long stretches. He vomited on court, took a medical timeout before the fifth set for a spinal massage and medication, and afterwards described his condition as something he had been carrying into most of his matches in 2026.

“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” the Serbian said.

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“You know, vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body, you know, starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.”

The loss ended Djokovic’s latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title.

Navone will play the winner of Matteo Berrettini against Stan Wawrinka in the second round on Wednesday, 2 September.

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