Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning first-round exit at the 2026 US Open after Argentina’s Mariano Navone defeated the 24-time Grand Slam champion in a dramatic five-set battle. Navone prevailed 7 6, 5 7, 4 6, 6- 2, 6 1 in a match which lasted four hours and 36 minutes.
Djokovic’s 20th US Open Appearance
The defeat came during a landmark US Open campaign for Djokovic, who was making his 20th appearance at the tournament. The Serbian became only the fourth male singles player to reach 20 US Open appearances, joining Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Feliciano Lopez. Djokovic has won the US Open four times, with his titles coming in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
78 Match Grand Slam Streak Ends
The biggest record to fall was the remarkable first-round Grand Slam winning streak of Novak. Before facing Navone, he had won 78 consecutive opening round matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
His defeat ended a run which had stretched back to the 2006 Australian Open. It marked Djokovic’s first-ever first-round loss at the US Open and only his second opening round defeat at a Grand Slam since the start of his career.
Navone Claims Biggest Win of His Career
For Mariano Navone, the victory was the biggest of his professional career. The Argentine recovered after losing the third set and eventually dominated the final two sets to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far.
The four-hour, 36-minute contest also became the longest first-round match of Djokovic’s career at a Grand Slam. The shocking defeat means Djokovic’s bid for a fifth US Open title and a record 25th major championship has ended at the earliest possible stage.
