Novak Djokovic, at 39 years old and ranked 5th in the ATP, spoke candidly about his first-round elimination at the 2026 US Open.
As the fourth seed, Djokovic faced a surprising defeat against Argentina’s Mariano Navone, ranked 49th, with a scoreline of 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 1-6. Following the match, Djokovic, who experienced vomiting during the game, opened up about the significant health challenges he has faced throughout the year, hinting at thoughts of quitting during the match.
Djokovic’s Post-Match Reaction
“It was obvious that I felt awful on the court. Unfortunately, this has been my experience in nearly every match this year. I vomit… it’s a serious problem. After that, my entire body starts to give in; I get cramps and pain. My back failed me at the end, as did my shoulder. I couldn’t finish strong. I had a break in the fourth set, but I struggled since the fourth game. I don’t want to take anything away from my opponent; he fought well. He’s a good guy and a fighter, but I didn’t enjoy it,” Djokovic said, as reported by sportal.blic.rs.
When asked if there was a way to address his stomach issue, the 24-time Grand Slam champion replied, “I don’t know. I’m trying. Let’s see. I can’t go into too much detail right now. I’m just thinking about what’s happening and how much longer I can continue like this.”
Djokovic’s Frustration
He further revealed, “I hated every moment spent on the court. I considered quitting, but then I won a set and also the third. I thought maybe there was a chance. In the fourth and fifth sets, I didn’t want to give up; I wanted to finish. I pride myself on my past achievements, but the present is the present.
The fans were incredibly kind, and I’m grateful for their support. Besides that, I didn’t enjoy it at all. In fact, I hated every moment on the court. However, the audience was amazing. They tried to lift me during crucial moments, and I’m sorry I couldn’t play better…” he added.
VIDEO: Djokovic Eliminated in First Round at US Open 2026
