Novak Djokovic’s hopes of making a promising run at the 2026 US Open came to an abrupt end on the opening day of the tournament. In his first-round match against Mariano Navone, the Serb struggled to maintain his form and, at one point, vomited on court, triggering massive online speculation about his future in tennis.
On Sunday, the Serbian legend stepped inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, having last lifted the US title in 2023. However, after five gruelling sets, the former world No. 1 faced a crushing defeat to Mariano, losing 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The focus has, however, shifted to Djokovic’s harrowing physical breakdown during the match. As the Serb continues to deal with the recently revealed underlying health condition, he was seen vomiting at the back of the court mid-way through the match. Although the Serb managed to take a 2-1 lead, his body completely betrayed him in the final two sets, leaving him helpless against Navone’s superb baseline game.
Now fans have raised concerns about the 24-time grand slam champion’s future in the sport.
One user said:
“Novak Djokovic might truly be cooked.”
Another said:
Someone said:
A user said:
One more user wrote:
Djokovic’s physical struggles in New York echoed his Cincinnati fallout, where the Serb faced a shocking second-round defeat to World No. 50 Thiago Agustin Tirante. During that match, Djokovic was seen vomiting in his towel and was wobbly throughout.
Novak Djokovic Reveals Health Struggles
After his Cincinnati exit, Novak Djokovic revealed that he has been suffering from an underlying health problem that worsens during humid conditions, and that is something that hugely contributed to his loss in Ohio.
“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years.”
Without revealing the exact diagnosis of the condition, Djokovic said:
“A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot.”
The 39-year-old’s first-round loss at the US Open ended his 20-year streak of never losing a first-round match at a Grand Slam.
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