Novak Djokovic stunned by Mariano Navone in historic US Open first round clash

Novak Djokovic’s run at the 2026 US Open ended before it really began. In a huge upset, he fell in the first round to Mariano Navone from Argentina. Nobody saw it coming—not like this, anyway. The match turned out to be the longest first-round battle Djokovic has ever played at a Grand Slam, and Navone came out on top after five sets that swung back and forth.

Djokovic, who’s won the US Open four times, came in expecting to go deep into the tournament. But right from the start, he just couldn’t shake off Navone’s steady baseline game. Navone, not even ranked in the top 50, played with the patience and grit of someone who’d been on this stage a hundred times. He never seemed rattled, even with Djokovic on the other side of the net.

The match had plenty of drama. Just when Djokovic looked like he was ready to turn things around in the third set, Navone dug in and wouldn’t back down. In the final set, the pressure was thick, but Navone kept his cool and nailed the big points. When it was over, he’d claimed the biggest win of his life—and left the tennis world stunned.

Djokovic didn’t make excuses after the loss. He said he wasn’t at his best, but he gave credit to Navone for stepping up when it counted. It’s one of the most unexpected early exits for Djokovic, and people are already wondering what this means for him as he moves into the later stage of his career.

For Navone, this is a career-defining moment. He’s gone from unknown to the guy who knocked out one of the game’s legends in New York. You can bet people won’t forget his name anytime soon.