From New York tears to Beijing revival: Novak Djokovic just changed the conversation around his retirement and LA 2028

Novak Djokovic’s US Open campaign ended after a physically punishing first-round contest against Mariano Navone, with the Serbian unable to complete a recovery in the final set.

A four-hour battle in New York

Djokovic lost 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes. His condition deteriorated visibly on Arthur Ashe Stadium. He vomited, suffered cramps and felt problems in his back and shoulder. His movement became increasingly limited, and he considered quitting during the match.

Despite those difficulties, Djokovic mounted a comeback before eventually conceding in the fifth set.

Health concerns remain a recurring issue

The problems were not entirely unexpected. Djokovic had experienced the same health issue in Cincinnati, and he said the vomiting had been present in almost every match he played this year.

“It's something that I have been carrying pretty much every match this year,” Djokovic said.

What the defeat revealed

The loss highlighted the physical challenge Djokovic is facing on court. While he was able to fight back during the match, the prolonged symptoms and eventual loss of movement prevented him from sustaining that effort through the final set.

For Djokovic, the immediate focus is the health problem he identified publicly after the match. The US Open defeat provided a stark picture of how significantly it affected his performance.