A shocked Novak Djokovic walks off after his unexpected US Open 2026 first-round loss to unseeded Argentine star Mariano Navone (Img: US Open)
New York:
Novak Djokovic’s US Open 2026 campaign ended in shocking fashion as unseeded Argentine player Mariano Navone pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent Grand Slam history, defeating the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the opening round.
Navone fought back after a five-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to send Djokovic crashing out of the tournament.
The defeat ended Djokovic’s remarkable two-decade-long record of never losing in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.
It's Mariano Navone's night in Arthur Ashe Stadium! pic.twitter.com/6pLpUwlUpw
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2026
Before this match, the Serbian legend had not suffered an opening-round defeat at any major since the Australian Open 2006. His loss against Navone also marked his first-ever first-round exit at the US Open.
With this victory, Mariano Navone became one of the few unseeded players to defeat Djokovic at a Grand Slam.
The Argentine star also created history by becoming the first unseeded player to beat Djokovic in the opening round of a major tournament.
Djokovic started strongly but Navone refused to surrender, matching the experienced champion’s intensity throughout the contest.
After losing the third set, Navone dominated the final two sets with aggressive baseline play and powerful shots, leaving Djokovic unable to recover.
The shock defeat adds another disappointing chapter to Djokovic’s recent Grand Slam campaign.
The Serbian icon, who has dominated men’s tennis for nearly two decades, now faces questions about his form and future performances at the biggest tournaments.
Meanwhile, Mariano Navone’s victory will be remembered as one of the greatest moments of his career and a landmark upset in US Open history.
