Mariano Navone defeated Novak Djokovic in the first round of the 2026 US Open in New York on Sunday night. The Argentine won 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory marked Navone’s first win over Djokovic in their first ATP Tour meeting. It was also Djokovic’s first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
Navone had already faced one of tennis’ greatest players before meeting Djokovic. He played Rafael Nadal in a four-hour clay-court match in Bastad in 2024, but lost the contest.
That experience helped Navone understand the challenge of facing a major tennis icon. The 25-year-old said beating Djokovic on one of the sport’s biggest stages felt like a childhood dream.
“I got up many times as a kid so early to see Novak,” Navone said. He recalled watching Djokovic compete at the Australian Open, French Open and US Open before school.
Navone also said his mother disliked those early mornings. However, watching Djokovic meant a lot to him while he was growing up and dreaming of playing professional tennis.
The Argentine showed strong mental resilience against Djokovic. He was two sets to one down and then faced a break in the fourth set before turning the match around.
Navone said his level improved after that moment. He also recognised that Djokovic was facing physical difficulties during the later stages of the match.
The win is a major moment in Navone’s career. He had reached a career-high No. 29 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2024 and won his first ATP Tour title earlier this year in Bucharest.
Navone also entered the match with limited experience in five-set victories. Before Sunday’s match, he had lost his previous four five-set matches.
“I never played in Arthur Ashe, and I never played against Novak,” Navone said. He described the victory as one of the best moments of his tennis career.
Navone will next face Matteo Berrettini or Stan Wawrinka in the second round. Regardless of the result, his victory over Djokovic has already made the 2026 US Open a major career highlight.
For Djokovic, the defeat ends his tournament at the opening stage. It also ends a long run of avoiding first-round losses at Grand Slam events that had lasted since the 2006 Australian Open.
