NOVAK DJOKOVIC SAID he “despised” every moment of the five-set, near five-hour ordeal which ended his US Open hopes in the first round.
The 39-year-old also admitted the underlying health issue he first revealed two weeks ago was “serious”, although he remains intent on getting the problem fixed.
Djokovic looked physically spent, was repeatedly sick and regularly doubled over in pain, but still took Argentina’s Mariano Navone the distance.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion could not prevent a 7-6 (5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 defeat and first exit in the opening round of a major since Paul Goldstein beat him at the Australian Open in 2006.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” said Djokovic.
“It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there.
“Then my whole body, you know, starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out?
“Can the issue be fixed? I don’t know. I’m trying, man. I’m trying. Let’s see.”
Djokovic, holding back tears at one point in the fifth set, managed a gracious smile as he congratulated world number 49 Navone on the biggest win of his career.
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“I was a break-up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match,” he added.
“I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.
“When it comes to match itself and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable. I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.”
Djokovic’s cheeks were already red, and his hair drenched in sweat midway through the first set, which he had led 3-0 but lost in a tie-break.
Having already successfully lobbied to have the roof closed, and with it the air conditioning switched on, Djokovic hit back late in the second set – after throwing up by the courtside towel box – with the crucial break for 6-5.
He was sick again midway through the third but still took his one chance to break serve, and vomited again at the start of the fourth before breaking once more for 2-1.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared to be cramping up and could barely move as Navone struck back, before winning just one more game in a dramatic defeat over four hours and 36 gruelling minutes.
Djokovic’s drawn-out travails meant Venus Williams did not step onto Arthur Ashe Stadium until after midnight for her match with fellow wild card Sofia Kenin.
The 46-year-old former champion squandered a remarkable seven set points in the second set before slipping to a 6-2 7-6 (6) defeat.
Earlier, world number three Jessica Pegula conquered her first-round nerves to dispatch Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.
Pegula broke Romania’s Ruse twice in each set, but it was less straightforward than the score indicated as the 32-year-old veteran felt the weight of opening the action on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Oh yeah, I was so nervous today, always the first round of a Slam,” said Pegula, who has won two titles this year and reached three other finals.
Her consistent high level means she could capture not only a first Grand Slam title but also the world number one ranking.
Seventh-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev also advanced with a serene 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over France’s Hugo Gaston.
It was a far cry from Medvedev’s meltdown in a first-round loss last year and a heartening performance in another year of mixed results for the Russian.
“I felt like I did everything I wanted to do well,” he said.
There was plenty of drama elsewhere. Dino Prizmic saved two match points in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Aleksandr Shevchenko.
And Spaniard Jaume Munar needed nearly five hours to secure a 6-7 (5/7), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory over Frenchman Terence Atmane.
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'Despised every moment': Novak Djokovic crashes out of US Open in first round
LAST UPDATE | 31 Aug
NOVAK DJOKOVIC SAID he “despised” every moment of the five-set, near five-hour ordeal which ended his US Open hopes in the first round.
The 39-year-old also admitted the underlying health issue he first revealed two weeks ago was “serious”, although he remains intent on getting the problem fixed.
Djokovic looked physically spent, was repeatedly sick and regularly doubled over in pain, but still took Argentina’s Mariano Navone the distance.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion could not prevent a 7-6 (5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 defeat and first exit in the opening round of a major since Paul Goldstein beat him at the Australian Open in 2006.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” said Djokovic.
“It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there.
“Then my whole body, you know, starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out?
Djokovic, holding back tears at one point in the fifth set, managed a gracious smile as he congratulated world number 49 Navone on the biggest win of his career.
“I was a break-up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match,” he added.
“I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But, you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.
Djokovic’s cheeks were already red, and his hair drenched in sweat midway through the first set, which he had led 3-0 but lost in a tie-break.
Having already successfully lobbied to have the roof closed, and with it the air conditioning switched on, Djokovic hit back late in the second set – after throwing up by the courtside towel box – with the crucial break for 6-5.
He was sick again midway through the third but still took his one chance to break serve, and vomited again at the start of the fourth before breaking once more for 2-1.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared to be cramping up and could barely move as Navone struck back, before winning just one more game in a dramatic defeat over four hours and 36 gruelling minutes.
Djokovic’s drawn-out travails meant Venus Williams did not step onto Arthur Ashe Stadium until after midnight for her match with fellow wild card Sofia Kenin.
The 46-year-old former champion squandered a remarkable seven set points in the second set before slipping to a 6-2 7-6 (6) defeat.
Earlier, world number three Jessica Pegula conquered her first-round nerves to dispatch Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.
Pegula broke Romania’s Ruse twice in each set, but it was less straightforward than the score indicated as the 32-year-old veteran felt the weight of opening the action on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Oh yeah, I was so nervous today, always the first round of a Slam,” said Pegula, who has won two titles this year and reached three other finals.
Her consistent high level means she could capture not only a first Grand Slam title but also the world number one ranking.
Seventh-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev also advanced with a serene 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over France’s Hugo Gaston.
It was a far cry from Medvedev’s meltdown in a first-round loss last year and a heartening performance in another year of mixed results for the Russian.
“I felt like I did everything I wanted to do well,” he said.
There was plenty of drama elsewhere. Dino Prizmic saved two match points in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Aleksandr Shevchenko.
And Spaniard Jaume Munar needed nearly five hours to secure a 6-7 (5/7), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory over Frenchman Terence Atmane.
With reporting from – © AFP 2026
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