Novak Djokovic's body finally betrayed him on the biggest stage in tennis. The 39-year-old, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was eliminated in the first round of the US Open for the first time in his career, falling to Argentina's Mariano Navone 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a five-set marathon that stretched four hours and 36 minutes into Sunday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It wasn't just a loss — it was a collapse in slow motion. Djokovic threw up at least once during the match, according to CNN's account of the match, and later grabbed at his cramping left foot before a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, when he swallowed pills brought out by a tournament doctor and had his lower back massaged courtside.

A 20-Year Streak, Gone

The numbers make the moment historic. It was the longest opening-round match of Djokovic's career at any Grand Slam, and his earliest exit from a major since the 2006 Australian Open — two decades ago. He had never previously lost in the first round of the US Open in over 20 appearances. The defeat also extended what ESPN described as a brutal recent stretch, coming just weeks after a first-round exit at the Cincinnati hardcourt tune-up.

Navone, ranked well outside the seeds, played the match of his life in his Arthur Ashe debut, closing it out by breaking a visibly hobbled Djokovic repeatedly in the final two sets as the Serbian's movement deteriorated.

"It's something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain," Djokovic said afterward.

He didn't sugarcoat the experience, telling reporters in his on-court and press-room comments carried by the ATP Tour's official recap that "it was really not enjoyable" and that he "pretty much despised every moment" spent on court once his body started to give out around the fourth game of the match.

The result sent shockwaves through the tournament's opening days, with outlets already framing it as one of the most stunning upsets of the fortnight given Djokovic's stature as the men's game's all-time major leader. It also reignites the question that has trailed him for much of 2026: how many more Slams does the 39-year-old have left in the tank if his body keeps failing him at this stage of matches.

For Navone, it's the biggest win of his career and a third-round berth against tougher competition ahead. For Djokovic, it means an early flight home from New York and a long offseason to figure out whether the physical breakdowns — now a recurring theme dating back to the summer hardcourt swing — are something that can be managed or whether they signal something more serious about the twilight of his career.

The US Open continues this week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with the men's and women's draws thinning out as the second round gets underway.