Novak Djokovic is not getting his rhythm right.
The 39-year-old’s latest US Open was shrouded in vomiting, cramping, pain and physical exhaustion during a marathon first-round match. The Serbian lost to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in five sets after four hours and 36 minutes and found himself out of the top 10.
Novak Djokovic has spent years building one of tennis’ greatest careers. He is a 24-time Grand Slam champion and a four-time US Open winner, with his latest title coming in 2023.
The tennis star’s physical struggles became impossible to ignore during a match. Djokovic made 70 unforced errors during the marathon contest against Navone. Cameras captured him vomiting into a bucket on the sideline as he tried to continue. He also appeared to suffer cramps and needed medical assistance to manage the physical strain.
Djokovic later explained that the problem has followed him throughout the season. He said he has experienced vomiting and throwing up during “pretty much every match this year,” describing it as a serious issue. He explained that his whole body eventually starts to collapse, followed by cramping and pain.
The physical problems eventually spread to his back and shoulder. Djokovic said his back “just gave up” toward the end, while his shoulder also became a problem.
US Magazine reported that he admitted that he could not close out the match despite trying to fight through the symptoms. When asked whether the unnamed ailment could be fixed, Djokovic couldn’t answer. “I don’t know. I’m trying, man. I’m trying. Let’s see,” he told reporters.
Djokovic Announced Mariano Navone As ‘The GOAT’
Navone entered the match ranked 48th in the world and ultimately produced one of the biggest wins of his career. The 25-year-old Argentine recovered after Djokovic won the third set and dominated the final two sets. His victory ended one of the most remarkable first-round records in Grand Slam tennis.
Djokovic acknowledged he had struggled from almost the beginning. He said he was a break up in the fourth set but had been struggling since the fourth game of the match. Still, he refused to diminish Navone’s accomplishment or use his own problems to take anything away from the victory.
“I don’t want to take too much out of his win,” Djokovic said. He called Navone a “nice guy” and a “fighter,” while admitting he did not enjoy the match. The praise showed that Djokovic recognized the Argentine’s achievement despite his own physical ordeal.
Navone was equally clear about what the victory meant to him. He called Djokovic the “GOAT” and said beating him at Arthur Ashe Stadium was one of the biggest moments of his tennis career. He explained that growing up and dreaming of playing tennis meant dreaming about competing against players like Djokovic on the sport’s biggest stage.
Novak Djokovic Set To Fall Out Of The ATP Top 10
Djokovic is set to exit the ATP Top 10 after eight years. He entered the US Open ranked fifth but dropped to 11th in the live rankings after failing to defend the points from his semifinal appearance last year. The 39-year-old had reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows in 2025 before losing to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz went on to win the tournament, meaning Djokovic needed another deep run to protect those ranking points this year. Instead, his first-round defeat brought his ranking down sharply.
The Serbian first entered the ATP Top 10 in 2007. He was pushed outside the elite group in November 2017 after an elbow problem forced him to retire during the
Wimbledon quarterfinals and miss the rest of that season. He returned to the Top 10 in 2018 after winning his fourth Wimbledon title. Sportstar revealed that Djokovic still holds the record for the most weeks as world No. 1, with 428 weeks at the top.
His latest ranking drop also closes another chapter of the sport’s Big Three era. For the first time since October 2002, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic will all be outside the ATP Top 10, with Federer retiring in 2022 and Nadal retiring in 2024.
After Navone’s seismic victory, he went to his bench and signed tennis balls for spectators. Seven-time Grand Slam champion McEnroe then told Navone that he would play his second-round match on Court 21. “We wish you the best,” he said.
McEnroe’s remarks quickly went viral and drew heavy criticism from tennis fans. The video clip shared on X prompted viewers to question the former champion’s attitude toward Navone. Several fans felt the Argentine deserved greater recognition after fairly defeating Djokovic.
One Djokovic fan called McEnroe’s remarks “disrespectful and uncalled for.” Another argued that being a tennis legend did not mean other players were not allowed to beat Djokovic. Other users described McEnroe’s attitude toward Navone as “despicable” and “shameful.”
Some fans went further and called for McEnroe to be removed from the commentary box. Others said it was time for him to stop calling matches altogether. Fans also noted that Navone’s next opponent would be either 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka or former world No. 6 Matteo Berrettini, making the suggestion about Court 21 even more questionable, as shared by Express.
Novak Djokovic Also Struggled At His Cincinnati Open
Djokovic had already experienced serious physical difficulties during his Cincinnati Open defeat. He required a medical timeout and appeared to struggle during the match. He had dropped to his knees and appeared to vomit into a towel during that match.
The conditions were particularly difficult because of the heat and humidity. Djokovic explained that the hot, humid weather was not the underlying problem. He revealed that he has been dealing with a health issue for years, which becomes especially difficult under those conditions.
The Blast reported that the tennis star also cast doubt on whether he would return to Cincinnati the following year. At the same time, he has remained focused on avoiding major injuries and extending his career. He has previously emphasized flexibility and the physical work he does away from competition as part of his efforts to keep his body healthy.
