Argentine tennis player Mariano Navone made history on Sunday as he became the first Argentine to beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at a tennis major since 2005.
Navone, who entered the tournament as the 48th in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles rankings, beat the legend from Serbia by 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in 4 hours and 36 minutes.
It proved a grueling battle that pushed the 39-year-old Djokovic to the limits. The Serbian, currently ranked world No. 5, vomited during the match and received medical treatment as he struggled to stay on his feet on court.
“It’s crazy, crazy,” said a visibly moved Navone after the match, who admitted being “a bit nervous” and “respecting” Djokovic at the start of the match.
“From the very start of the match, it’s tough to play against Novak. He’s my hero; taking him off the poster in my mind was hard,” he explained.
