Novak Djokovic’s US Open hopes have been dashed after a brutal first-round loss left him struggling to stay on his feet, before revealing a “serious issue” has plagued him throughout the year.
Fellow tennis great Venus Williams also crashed out in the opening round, with the 46-year-old falling short in a wild encounter that finished after 2am local time.
Meanwhile, two Aussies are in limbo after a dramatic play stoppage at a crucial time – with one of them in the middle of a five-set battle royale.
All that and more in today’s edition of US Open Daily!
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‘PUNCH DRUNK’ NOVAK’S BRUTAL MOMENT IN 4.5HR WAR
Novak Djokovic was left projectile vomiting in an draining five-set first-round loss to Argentine Mariano Navone.
The 24-time grand slam champion has long been the most ruthless and unyielding of competitors on the court, with Andy Roddick famously quipping “First he takes your legs, then he takes your soul” on social media during the 2021 US Open.
But the 39-year old was pushed beyond his limits by both Navone’s persistent baseline play and humid conditions inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The five-set loss, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 saw Djokovic repeatedly vomit, look shaky on his feet, receive a medical timeout and, eventually, in tears as the tough conditions took their toll.
According to journalist Dan Wolken, Djokovic spoke to a small group of reporters outside the locker room after the loss and revealed the serious physical issue had been affecting him throughout the year.
“I despised every moment I was on the court,” Djokovic said.
Asked whether he believed he could fix the issue, Djokovic replied: “I don’t know, man. I’m trying.”
Has Father time caught up to Djokovic? | 00:43
Remarkably, it is his first first-round exit at a grand slam since the 2006 Australian Open – a span of more than 20 years and 78 major tournaments.
The Serbian first vomited early in the second set, after losing the first in a tie-break after 74 minutes.
“I have nothing right now,” he was seen telling his player’s box.
Despite looking physically spent, he recovered to win the next two sets 7-5, 6-4, all the while looking on the brink of collapse.
“He looks punch drunk,” commentator and former great Mary Carillo said on the US Open international feed.
“He’s against the ropes.”
“He was wobbling a bit,” co-commentator Jimmy Arias added during a change of ends midway through the third set.
Djokovic was seen projectile-vomiting at the back of the court while 5-4, 40-15 up late in the third, which he would soon claim.
“If you’re feeling like vomiting, if you’re smart … go ahead and do it on the tennis court,” Arias suggested.
“They’ve got to clean it up, you’ve got to wait for a little bit of time, you get a little extra rest.”
Djoker chucks up! | 00:18
On ESPN, former great John McEnroe praised Djokovic’s resilience.
“Talk about the ultimate competitor. He’s hurling, and it’s unbelievable that he’s still enduring. Suffering,” McEnroe said.
Djokovic used an ice pack on his head between games, while also requesting organisers turn the air conditioning on, with the roof having been shut mid-game due to New York rain.
He the set despite being called for a time violation on set point, which drew loud boos from the crowd.
With Navone growing increasingly frustrated by a series of misses, the Serbian broke first in the fourth set, but was broken back himself twice to fall behind as he appeared to be struggling with cramp.
But as the drama continued, Djokovic would threaten to break back instantly, only to spurn two set points as Navone produced his best tennis to hold, then break again to take the set 6-2 and send it to a deciding fifth.
The 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023 champion would then take a medical timeout and receive treatment on his lower back before the start of the decider.
But after being broken twice to start the fifth set, a hobbled Djokovic was left in tears as his dream of a 25th grand slam title slipped away.
While the crowd remained to cheer him on, Navone would prove unrelenting, the 25-year old’s youth able to cope with the conditions far better.
“A magnificent moment for Mariano Navone,” Carillo said.
“He deserves more applause than I’m hearing.”
Controversially, the match was the first of two scheduled for the main court at Flushing Meadows on the first night, with former champion Venus Williams’ clash with fellow American Sofia Kenin significantly delayed.
“Scheduling a best of five at 7pm … before a best of 3 is simply done,” tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on X.
But after being broken twice to start the fifth set, a hobbled Djokovic was left in tears as his dream of a 25th grand slam title slipped away.
While the crowd remained to cheer him on, Navone would prove unrelenting, the 25-year old’s youth able to cope with the conditions far better.
“A magnificent moment for Mariano Navone,” Carillo said.
“He deserves more applause than I’m hearing.”
Controversially, the match was the first of two scheduled for the main court at Flushing Meadows on the first night, with former champion Venus Williams’ clash with fellow American Sofia Kenin significantly delayed.
“Scheduling a best of five at 7pm … before a best of 3 is simply done,” tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on X.
VENUS FALLS SHORT IN 2AM US OPEN THRILLER
Venus Williams’ remarkable US Open return has come to an end in the opening round after the 46-year-old fell short in a late-night thriller against fellow American Sofia Kenin.
Nearly three decades after reaching the final at Flushing Meadows as a teenager in 1997, Williams was handed a wildcard into the singles draw but was unable to wind back the clock in a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) defeat.
But the seven-time Grand Slam champion certainly didn’t go quietly.
Williams threatened to produce an extraordinary comeback inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, fighting back from a break down in the second set before racing to a 6-2 advantage in the tie-break.
With the crowd suddenly sensing a deciding set, Kenin steadied herself at the perfect moment.
The 27-year-old rattled off six consecutive points to deny Williams and seal victory in straight sets, bringing the veteran’s singles campaign to an end just after 2am local time.
It was an extraordinarily late finish after Williams and Kenin were forced to wait until just after midnight to take the court following Novak Djokovic’s marathon five-set defeat earlier in the night session.
Kenin had initially appeared destined for a comfortable victory, racing through the opening set before establishing a 4-2 advantage in the second.
She then had a break point which would have given her a commanding 5-2 lead, only for Williams to suddenly come alive.
The former world No.1 fought her way back into the contest and forced the tie-break, where she moved within two points of sending the match into a deciding third set.
But Kenin refused to buckle, producing a stunning six-point run to close out the match.
Williams saluted the fans as she departed Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the American yet to indicate when she plans to call time on her singles career.
Her most recent Grand Slam singles victory came at Wimbledon in 2021, when she reached the second round.
Williams has since made six Grand Slam singles appearances without progressing beyond the opening round.
However, her time at this year’s US Open is not over yet.
Williams will return to the court later in the tournament when she teams up with sister Serena in the women’s doubles.
AUSSIES LEFT ON THE BRINK AFTER DRAMATIC STOPPAGE
Australian pair Aleksandar Vukic and Kim Birrell will need to wait until the morning of Day 2 to have their US Open fates decided.
Both were at crucial stages of their first-round matches on the outside courts at Flushing Meadows, before rain forced all matches not at the main courts under roofs to be halted.
Birrell was locked at 3-3 in a second-set tiebreaker against Petra Marcinko, having lost the first set 6-3, when the rain arrived.
“What a time to stop play here!” commentator Jelena Dokic said on Nine.
“It’s tough for both players … If you play a couple of loose points here, the tiebreak is basically done.”
Vukic was at an even tenser point of his encounter with Japan’s Rei Sakamoto, with Sakamoto a break ahead at 4-3 of the deciding fifth set.
Birrell and Vukic will need to resume their encounters to begin Day 2.
They are hoping to join compatriot Taylah Preston in the second round, who became the first Australian through after a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Alycia Parks.
The win was a bright spot on an otherwise dark day for Australia’s hopes at the tournament, with Storm Hunter, Talia Gibson and Adam Walton all bundled out.
‘STOP ACTING STUPID’: FRENCHMAN FUMES OVER TREATMENT VERDICT IN INJURY DRAMA
Frenchman Terence Atmane was left fuming after his attempt to reach the second round of the US Open was scuppered by cramp.
The world No.92 had one foot in the round of 64 when he led Jaume Munar two sets to love.
But as the cramp struck, Atmane struggled to cope, losing the third set 6-1 and even needing to resort to serving underarm – and then with his non-preferred right arm.
Early in the fifth set, the Frenchman’s injury frustration turned into anger, when his request for treatment from a physio was rejected.
Under tournament rules, players cannot receive treatment for cramp.
However, Atmane argued that he wanted treatment due to feeling “pain”.
“I know the rules, that’s why I’m asking, that’s why I’m calling you, because I know I cannot get treatment for cramp,” he told the chair umpire.
“It was not cramp, it was pain. P-A-I-N. No cramp. Do you understand?”
A furious Atmane then demanded to see the physio’s credentials as he began to leave the court.
“Can you just give me treatment? Stop acting stupid?” he demanded as the chair umpire escorted the physio from the court.
Atmane would go on to lose the fifth set 7-5.