The 2026 US Open delivered an almighty shock on the opening day of the tournament as 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round by Mariano Navone.
Djokovic broke down in tears after a physically gruelling five-set contest at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows where the Serbian succumbed to a 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 defeat in sweltering conditions.
With world number one Jannik Sinner absent with injury and Carlos Alcaraz scarce of match preparation following a four-month injury lay-off, Djokovic's record-extending 84th appearance at a Grand Slam tournament was supposed to be one of his best chances at claiming a 25th major title.
Instead, the torturous four hours and 36 minutes against Navone could easily be his last outing at Grand Slam.
We've grown accustomed to witnessing Djokovic compete in the latter stages of tournaments across the previous two decades, to the point that a first-round exit would have seemed unfathomable.
This is only the third time in Djokovic's career that he's failed to progress beyond the opening round.
When was the last time Novak Djokovic lost in the first round of a Grand Slam?
Djokovic's defeat to Navone in the US Open was the first time he had been eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
The Serbian was making his fifth appearance at a Grand Slam and aiming to better his first-round elimination from the previous year in Melbourne, but he was conquered in four sets by American Paul Goldstein.
Djokovic had progressed beyond the first round in 78 consecutive Grand Slams before his trip to Flushing Meadows.
