Novak Djokovic experienced his earliest Grand Slam departure in over 20 years after succumbing to injury and illness in a stunning first-round loss to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone at the U.S. Open on Sunday. The 39-year-old, aiming for a fifth US Open title and a record 25th major, was defeated 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, sending shockwaves through the final Grand Slam of the year.
Earlier in the day, former champion Daniil Medvedev and top-ranked American Jessica Pegula advanced comfortably as players began their campaigns to claim a share of the record $108 million prize fund.
Djokovic’s last first-round Grand Slam loss occurred at the 2006 Australian Open. Despite battling shoulder and back issues and vomiting mid-match, he fought hard but admitted to disliking every moment on court. With world number one Jannik Sinner absent and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returning from injury, Djokovic had appeared poised for a deep run.
However, Navone defied expectations and secured the biggest victory of his career against his idol at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The world number 49 revealed he was initially nervous facing Djokovic but noticed the Serb struggled physically and with his shots. Navone said Djokovic appeared shaken in the fifth set, which he capitalized on to close out the match, describing the experience as incredible and thrilling.
Meanwhile, Medvedev, who had suffered a chaotic first-round exit last year, displayed solid form by defeating French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. After a difficult lead-up marked by early exits in Cincinnati and Montreal, Medvedev expressed satisfaction with his high-level performance.
Jessica Pegula, ranked world number three, also impressed the home crowd by beating Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2 in the opening match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Pegula will next face Sofia Kenin, who overcame Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(6) in the latest starting women’s match in US Open history, beginning at 12:13 a.m.
In other results, twice Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova became the first seeded player to exit, falling to Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6(4), 6-2 after saving six match points on the outer courts. Italian Jasmine Paolini survived a scare to defeat Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and will face compatriot Lucrezia Stefanini next.
The tournament’s action also saw Czech Jiri Lehecka start strong with a 6-1, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta on the Grandstand, while Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk dominated Australian Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-1 at the same venue. Kostyuk’s compatriot Elina Svitolina also advanced, defeating Solana Sierra 6-1, 6-2.
Notably, former champion Marin Cilic and 2022 runner-up Casper Ruud withdrew due to injuries shortly after the tournament began, adding to the early surprises at this year’s US Open.
