Argentine underdog seals biggest win of his career as a physically struggling Djokovic suffers his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years.
Image: AP7AM
Mariano Navone produced one of the biggest shocks of the US Open by defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller. The Argentine recovered from losing the second and third sets to win 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes.
Djokovic struggled physically throughout the contest, appearing affected by illness, cramps and back and shoulder problems as the match wore on. The defeat marked his earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2006 Australian Open and his first-ever first-round loss at the US Open.
For Navone, the victory was a career-defining moment against the player he idolised growing up. “For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court,” the emotional Argentine said after completing the stunning upset.
