US Open Day 1 Recap: Navone Stuns Djokovic to Further Open Up the Men’s Field

Mariano Navone produced the victory of his career on an interesting opening day at the US Open, defeating an ailing Novak Djokovic in five sets to bring the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s latest pursuit of history to an abrupt end.

The Argentine world No. 49 recovered from losing the second and third sets to defeat Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in four hours and 36 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was Djokovic’s first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open and his earliest exit in 20 appearances at Flushing Meadows. His bid for a fifth US Open crown and an unprecedented 25th major singles title was over before midnight on the first day.

The result was surprising, not simply because of Djokovic’s stature in the sport, but because of Navone’s limited hard-court success. The 25-year-old has built much of his career on clay and entered the tournament unseeded. Yet he remained composed through the fluctuations of a match in which Djokovic repeatedly appeared capable of escaping.

Djokovic made the better start, leading 3-0 in the opening set, but Navone worked his way back to 4-4 before winning the tiebreak. The Serbian responded by taking the next two sets, even after vomiting into a courtside bin during the third.

For a time, Djokovic’s recovery appeared to be following a familiar script. He broke for a 5-4 lead in the third and served out the set, moving within one of the second round despite his visible discomfort.

Instead, his body began to fail him.

Djokovic led by a break early in the fourth set but was increasingly restricted by problems with his back and shoulder. His serve deteriorated, his movement became more laboured and Navone took control, dropping only three games across the final two sets.

“It was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” Djokovic said afterwards. “It is something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up, serious issue there, and then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain, and the back just gave up in the end, and shoulder… Congrats to him; he’s a nice guy, fighter, but you know, I didn’t enjoy myself.”

Despite considering his condition serious enough to compromise his chances, Djokovic said he had been determined to complete the contest.

“I wanted to finish the match,” he said.

Navone, meanwhile, was attempting to process an achievement that immediately became the biggest result of his career.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said after beating the player he described as the greatest of all time. “For sure it’s the best thing I’ve had on court. This is an amazing court and the biggest stage… Five sets against the GOAT, it’s not something you do every day. I’m very happy.”

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner had already withdrawn from the tournament, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz arrived in New York having not played a singles match for four months. With Djokovic now eliminated, another major obstacle has disappeared from an already unusually open field.

Pegula Makes Impressive Start on Ashe

Earlier on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Jessica Pegula began her campaign with a controlled 6-3, 6-2 victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

The third seed struck 26 winners, compared with 14 from Ruse, and became increasingly authoritative as the match developed. After some early nerves, Pegula won every point behind her first serve in the second set and completed the victory with an unreturned forehand.

“I felt really nervous before I went out there, but I know my coaches were like, ‘You didn’t really look that nervous. We thought you played great.’” She also enjoyed the Sunday start that the 15-day schedule now allows: “It is a little bit weird, but I did kind of enjoy that I could breathe for the next couple of days and everyone else is still freaking out about whether they’re going to win their first round.”

Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, is among four women who entered the tournament with a mathematical opportunity to leave New York as world No. 1. Her more immediate reward is a second-round meeting with fellow American Sofia Kenin.

Kenin closed the (late) night session by defeating 46-year-old Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(6). Williams made her 96th Grand Slam main-draw appearance but was unable to force a deciding set after pushing the second to a tiebreak.

Kenin converted four of nine break-point opportunities, while Williams won two of seven. The former Australian Open champion also found greater security behind her second serve, winning 56 per cent of those points compared with Williams’ 47 per cent.

Medvedev Returns to Winning Ways

Daniil Medvedev supplied one of the day’s most convincing men’s performances, beating French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

The seventh seed finished with 34 winners to Gaston’s 11 and struck 10 aces during a largely uncomplicated victory. Gaston attempted to disrupt the former champion with drop shots and changes of pace, but Medvedev responded by playing aggressively and consistently pushing the Frenchman behind the baseline.

“I needed to make some winners, put some pressure on him,” Medvedev said of his approach. “The last couple of weeks were not easy but, you know how it is, sometimes you lose matches, sometimes you win. I’m happy that today I managed to produce a high level of tennis. I felt like I did everything I wanted to do well. I finished the match strong. I started the match strong. I’m really glad the way I played.”

It was a welcome return to normality for the 2021 champion, who had lost his opening match at both Montreal and Cincinnati before arriving in New York. It was also a sharp contrast to his chaotic first-round defeat at the 2025 US Open.

American 20th seed Tommy Paul was forced to work harder after losing the opening set to qualifier Coleman Wong. Paul recovered to win 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3, dropping only seven games after the first-set tiebreak.

Wong struck 15 aces but also committed six double faults and landed only half of his first serves. Paul, by contrast, made just one double fault and won 33 of 43 points behind his second serve. The American converted six of his 13 break points while losing serve only once.

Fifteenth seed Alexander Bublik also advanced, defeating American wildcard J.J. Wolf 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Krejcikova Becomes First Seed to Fall

Barbora Krejcikova became the tournament’s first seeded casualty when Kamilla Rakhimova defeated the 27th seed 7-6(4), 6-2.

Krejcikova saved six match points before Rakhimova eventually completed the upset. For the two-time major singles champion, it continued a difficult Grand Slam season: she has now lost in the first round at three of the four majors in 2026.

Jasmine Paolini narrowly avoided joining her on the sidelines. The 19th seed defeated Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 after being taken into a deciding set. Paolini’s greater attacking output proved important, with the Italian producing 36 winners to Erjavec’s 13.

Ninth seed Elina Svitolina had a far more comfortable afternoon, racing past Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-1, 6-2 in only 51 minutes.

Svitolina’s compatriot Marta Kostyuk also advanced in straight sets, defeating Australian qualifier Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-1. The 11th seed took control after a competitive opening set and lost only one game in the second.

Samuel Celebrates Grand Slam Breakthrough

One of the day’s most exciting (and surprising) victories belonged to British qualifier Toby Samuel, who defeated Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 32 minutes.

Samuel converted six of his 10 break points and struck 24 winners to earn his first victory in the main draw of a Grand Slam. His reward is a second-round match against 18th seed Jiri Lehecka, who beat Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2.

There was disappointment for 29th seed Cameron Norrie. After taking a tight opening set, the Briton was outplayed by Luca Van Assche, who completed a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory. It was Van Assche’s first main-draw win at the US Open.

Katie Boulter progressed after a more uneven performance, defeating American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. Having lost the second set, Boulter raised her aggression and swept through the decider without conceding a game.

The longest match outside Arthur Ashe Stadium was Jaume Munar’s remarkable recovery against Terence Atmane. Munar came back from two sets down to win 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 7-5 after four hours and 53 minutes.

Preston Provides Australian Highlight

Taylah Preston recorded her first Grand Slam main-draw victory outside Australia by defeating powerful American Alycia Parks 6-3, 6-3.

The result offered a bright spot on a difficult day for the Australian contingent. Hunter lost to Kostyuk, Talia Gibson was beaten by Donna Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, and Adam Walton fell to China’s Wu Yibing 7-6(2), 6-2, 7-5.

Rain eventually suspended play on the outside courts, leaving seven matches to be completed on Monday. Action continued beneath the roofs of Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums.

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