Tennis star Novak Djokovic tears up and vomits as he loses in first round of U.S. Open

Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning first-round exit from the U.S. Open on Sunday night, losing to unseeded Mariano Navone in five sets after struggling physically throughout a gruelling match. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by the world No. 48, marking Djokovic's earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years.

Djokovic appeared to be in serious physical discomfort during the four-hour-plus battle, vomiting on court and suffering a cramp that forced him to grab his foot. He also took medication provided by a doctor and received a back massage during a medical timeout.

The 39-year-old became increasingly emotional in the deciding set. With Djokovic trailing 3-1, he began tearing up as the crowd attempted to rally behind him, but he was unable to fight his way back into the match. Navone, meanwhile, remained aggressive and showed little fear against one of the greatest players in tennis history. The Argentine dominated the final set to complete one of the biggest victories of his career.

After the match, Djokovic admitted he had struggled to enjoy the contest. "I didn't enjoy myself. I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me," he said. The defeat is particularly significant because Djokovic had never previously lost in the first round of the U.S. Open.

It is also his earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament since 2006, when he was knocked out in the opening round of the Australian Open. Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, entered the tournament with 24 Grand Slam singles titles but was unable to overcome his physical problems against Navone.

Watch the video below.....................................

Novak Djokovic in tears as the realization dawns upon him that Father Time has finally caught up pic.twitter.com/5uOfg2Em30

- Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan)

by Linda Ikeji at 31/08/2026 5:08 PM | Share this Story