Novak Djokovic was surprisingly eliminated in the first round of the US Open, defeated after a very tough match by the Argentine Mariano Navone, world number 49, with a score of 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The former world number one, now fifth in the ranking, had not lost in the first round of a Slam for over twenty years: the last time it happened at the Australian Open in 2006. An exit that further removes the possibility, at 39 years old, of winning the 25th Grand Slam title, which would represent a record.
Djokovic’s body could not withstand the battle, despite the intervention of the medical staff and the taking of drugs, Djokovic vomited several times: «I think it was clear that the sensations on the court were terrible», he said, «unfortunately it is something that I carry with me in practically every match this year. I vomit, I have a serious problem from that point of view and then the whole body basically starts to give in, with cramps and pain. In the end my back gave out, as did my shoulder, and I wasn’t able to finish the match as I wanted. I don’t want to take anything away from his victory. Congratulations to him, he’s a good guy and a fighter. But I didn’t have fun.” The Serbian thanked the public for “the incredible support”: “The affection really touched my heart.”
Despite his physical problems, Nole continued to fight, but lost the first set in the tie-break, closed by his forehand which landed on the tape. In the second set the Serbian managed to react, taking advantage of a bad turn of serve from Navone to equalize the score. A similar scenario was repeated in the third set, when the Argentine again gave up serve at a decisive moment, allowing Djokovic to move ahead two sets to one. The effort, however, took its toll in the fourth set. At 2-1 Djokovic was hit by cramps and from that moment on physically collapsed, losing eight consecutive games. Navone thus completed the comeback and closed the match after 4 hours and 36 minutes.
Daniil Medvedev, US Open champion in 2021, also advances, having beaten the Frenchman Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2,
6-4.
The first day’s program ended only on pitches with roofs due to rain. Among the suspended matches also the one between Federico Cinà and Alex Michelsen, interrupted at 6-4 1-1 in favor of the American, n.46 ATP. The 19-year-old Sicilian, coming from the qualifiers and 181st in the ranking, played with ease and the right amount of bravado, showing fluid backhand accelerations, but lost serve in the last game of the first set.
