Novak Djokovic has proved in 2026 that he retains the ability to defeat most players in the world but, so far, the great Serb has failed in his quest for a landmark 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic began the year by reaching the Australian Open final in Melbourne. He ousted Jannik Sinner in a memorable semi-final but was downed in four sets by Carlos Alcaraz in the showpiece.
A third-round exit followed at the French Open before a strong run to the last four at Wimbledon ended in a straight-sets defeat to Sinner.
The Italian is absent from the US Open with a knee injury, while Alcaraz is back in tournament action for the first time in nearly five months after his own wrist problems.
Could this be Djokovic's best shot at winning that coveted 25th major crown? He is a four-time winner in New York but must be careful against a tricky first-round opponent in the opening night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium when he faces Argentina's Mariano Navone.
Mariano Navone v Novak Djokovic Tips Summary
Best Bet – Novak Djokovic to win 3-1 @ 12/5
Alternative Bet – Novak Djokovic -6.5 Games @ 8/11
Bet Builder – Novak Djokovic to win, 1st Set Over 9.5 Games, Mariano Navone 3+ Double Faults & To Go the Distance: No @ 19/10
Mariano Navone v Novak Djokovic Prediction
Best Bet: Novak Djokovic to win 3-1 @ 12/5
Djokovic has played only one match since his Wimbledon semi-final loss against Sinner in July, a first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open where he struggled with the humidity against Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Similar conditions are forecast for the evening session on day one in New York and some level of rustiness is anticipated from the great man.
His opening wins in Paris and London over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Wu Yibing, both ranked outside the top 100, came in four sets as Djokovic took time to warm to the challenge and a similar outcome is expected against a stronger opponent on paper.
Alternative Bet: Novak Djokovic -6.5 Games @ 8/11
Despite dropping sets at both the French Open and Wimbledon in the first round, Djokovic overcame a 6.5-game handicap at Roland Garros, while his opening win in Melbourne in January would also have beaten this handicap.
Navone is expected to compete in the early exchanges but the Argentine typically does best on clay and as this match progresses he may falter on the speedy hard courts of New York.
Mariano Navone v Novak Djokovic Bet Builder Tip
- Novak Djokovic to win
- 1st Set Over 9.5 Games
- Mariano Navone 3+ Double Faults
- To Go The Distance: No
Pays 19/10
The first set really should be where this games is closest and going over 9.5 games looks a solid play as that has landed in Djokovic's previous two Grand Slam first-round encounters after falling one game shy in Melbourne.
"The opening matches are always for me, particularly in the last few years, quite challenging," was Djokovic's assessment going into this encounter as he declared he feels like "I am as best as I can be" starting out in New York.
Navone is not a big server, and his ace-count should be quite low. He is going to have to try to put pressure on the Djokovic return to grab a foothold in this contest and could serve at least three double faults.
To complete the bet builder, take this first-round encounter not to go to five sets. Not since he beat Viktor Troicki at Flushing Meadows in 2010 has Djokovic gone five sets in the first round of a Grand Slam.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
- This is the first meeting between Djokovic and 25-year-old Argentine Navone
- The Serb won his 24th Grand Slam trophy at the US Open in 2023 and has reached two Grand Slam finals since, including the Australian Open this year
- Four-time winner Djokovic is appearing at his 20th US Open; Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Feliciano Lopez are the only other men to have reached that mark
- Navone has never gone beyond round three at a Grand Slam. This will be his third time in the main draw in New York, his only victory coming against Daniel Altmaier in 2024
- Navone was ranked a career-best 29th in the world in 2024, and is currently at 38th
- Djokovic has played only one match since his Wimbledon semi-final, a first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
