August 31, 2026
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates a match point against Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp during their men’s singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)
Novak Djokovic has suffered a shock first-round exit at the 2026 US Open after losing to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a gruelling five-set encounter at Flushing Meadows.
The 39-year-old Serbian, who was targeting a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, was defeated 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by the world No. 49 in a match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes.
The defeat marked Djokovic’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open and the longest first-round match of his Grand Slam career.
