Djokovic Breaks Down in Tears During Historic US Open Collapse
Novak Djokovic endured one of the most painful nights of his career, completely unraveling against Argentina’s Mariano Navone in New York.
Novak Djokovic produced one of the most shocking images of his extraordinary career. At 39, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was reduced to tears and visibly exhausted during a dramatic first-round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone at the US Open.
Navone, the world No. 49, prevailed 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 after four hours and 36 minutes in a marathon that finished close to midnight in New York. But even that scoreline does not fully explain what happened in the closing stages.
Djokovic had recovered from a difficult start to take a two-sets-to-one lead and appeared to have regained control. Everything changed in the fourth set. His body began to betray him and he eventually lost 11 of the final 12 games, completing a stunning collapse.
The tears that showed a different side of Djokovic
The physical problems had begun well before the dramatic finish. Djokovic required medical attention during the match, took medication and later vomited as he desperately tried to stay in the contest.
He received treatment on his lower back before the fifth set, but his body was no longer responding. When he fell 0-3 behind in the deciding set, Djokovic could no longer hold back the tears.
His family watched from the stands. Jelena Djokovic and their children, Stefan and Tara, witnessed one of the most vulnerable moments of a player who built much of his legend over the past two decades by somehow surviving matches exactly like this one.
A defeat that ends a 20-year streak
The loss was also historic. In his 20th appearance at the US Open, Djokovic suffered his first opening-round defeat at the tournament.
The Serbian had not lost his opening match at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open, when he was beaten by American Paul Goldstein. Twenty years had passed since that defeat.
The result is even more striking considering Djokovic’s recent performances on the biggest stages. He reached the final of the last Australian Open and the semifinals at Wimbledon, remaining a contender as he continued his pursuit of the elusive 25th Grand Slam title that would move him beyond Margaret Court.
Mariano Navone earns the biggest win of his career
Djokovic’s physical collapse should not overshadow Mariano Navone’s performance. The 25-year-old Argentine recognized his opponent’s struggles and showed the composure required to turn them into one of the biggest victories of his career.
The decisive shift came in the fourth set. Djokovic had broken serve to move 2-1 ahead, but later surrendered his own serve following a grueling 12-minute game and began a downward spiral from which he never recovered.
Navone took full advantage, winning eight consecutive games. When Djokovic finally stopped the run to make it 1-3 in the fifth, the New York crowd responded with a huge ovation. The four-time US Open champion became emotional, but by then there was no way back.
The victory also marked a special moment for Argentine tennis. No Argentine player had beaten Djokovic at a Grand Slam since Guillermo Coria defeated him at the 2005 French Open.
For Djokovic, one image will be difficult to forget: a player who for years appeared almost indestructible at the biggest tournaments crying at the back of the court as his body finally told him it had had enough.
3 Key Takeaways From Djokovic’s US Open Drama
- A stunning collapse: Djokovic lost 11 of the final 12 games after leading by two sets to one.
- A rarely seen image: struggling physically and down 0-3 in the fifth set, the Serbian could not hold back the tears.
- A historic defeat: Djokovic lost in the US Open first round for the first time and suffered an opening-match Grand Slam defeat for the first time in 20 years.
