Novak Djokovic broke down in tears during a US Open first-round defeat by Argentina’s Mariano Navone which provided further evidence age is fast catching up with the 39-year-old great. According to the BBC, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was overcome by emotion in the deciding set of a dramatic match……
Novak Djokovic broke down in tears during a US Open first-round defeat by Argentina’s Mariano Navone which provided further evidence age is fast catching up with the 39-year-old great.
According to the BBC, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was overcome by emotion in the deciding set of a dramatic match in which he struggled physically throughout and had to vomit into a towel bin.
The fourth-seeded Djokovic fought through the physical problems and showed the resilience that has defined his career before eventually losing 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in humid conditions in New York.
The defeat marked the first time Djokovic had been eliminated in the opening round at Flushing Meadows and his first first-round Grand Slam defeat since 2006.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” Djokovic said.
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“I don’t want to take too much out of Mariano’s win. Congrats to him, he’s a nice guy and a fighter – but I didn’t enjoy myself.”
Djokovic managed to raise a smile while congratulating 25-year-old Navone, but his emotions returned as he made his way towards the locker room following one of the biggest victories of the Argentine’s career.
The loss also ended Djokovic’s latest attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would have moved him clear of Australia’s Margaret Court.
Djokovic had reached at least the semi-finals at six of the previous seven Grand Slam tournaments, but his struggles in the humid New York conditions raised fresh questions about his physical ability to maintain his previous level.
The Serbian appeared nauseous throughout the match and experienced problems similar to those that affected him during his early exit at the Cincinnati Open two weeks earlier.
After that defeat, Djokovic said he had been dealing with a “health condition” that had been “bothering” him in oppressive conditions for several years. Following his loss to Navone, he described the problem as a “serious issue”.
“It’s something that I have been carrying pretty much every match this year – vomiting, throwing up,” Djokovic said.
“And then my whole body starts to collapse basically, cramping and pain – the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”
Djokovic started strongly, breaking Navone in the opening game to establish a 2-0 advantage. However, the lead disappeared in the seventh game as the effects of the conditions began to take their toll.
A long rally appeared to leave Djokovic struggling to recover, with his serve and groundstrokes subsequently losing pace. He called for medical assistance after the ninth game and received tablets to help with the problem.
Navone maintained his composure to take the opening set in a tie-break after one hour and 13 minutes, while Djokovic repeatedly bent over between points as he battled to stay competitive.
The physical concerns around the four-time US Open champion were evident inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the crowd growing increasingly subdued as the match progressed.
Djokovic responded in the second set, benefiting from the cooler conditions after the roof was closed. He eventually secured the only break of the set at 6-5 before serving out to level the contest.
The 39-year-old appeared more animated at the start of the third set and managed to regain the lead after breaking Navone at 5-4.
However, the Argentine responded strongly in the fourth set, while Djokovic’s physical problems returned. Navone raced through the set 6-2 before taking control of the decider.
The fifth set quickly slipped away from Djokovic as Navone won 6-1, completing a remarkable victory and sending one of the greatest players in tennis history out in the opening round.
For Djokovic, the defeat represents another difficult moment in a season in which his physical struggles have increasingly become a factor, while Navone moves into the second round of the US Open with one of the biggest wins of his career.
