Novak Djokovic suffered his first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since 2006 (ending an incredible 77-match winning streak), losing to Argentina's Mariano Navone after a grueling marathon. In a match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes, Navone won 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, taking advantage of the Serbian's complete physical collapse.
Hellish humidity and physical collapse
It was clear from the start that this would not be a routine evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 39-year-old Djokovic started well and took a 3-0 lead, but then serious health problems set in. The humidity took its toll, and Novak struggled with nausea, vomiting, cramps and severe pain in his back and shoulder.
"I had a terrible feeling on the court. This is something I've been dragging on for a whole year, vomiting, difficulties... and then my whole body starts to collapse with cramps and pain. My back and shoulder just gave out, and I've been struggling since the fourth game of the match," Djokovic honestly admitted after the painful defeat, although he gentlemanly congratulated the 25-year-old Argentine on the biggest win of his career.
An emotional ending with tears in my eyes
Despite winning the second and third sets, showing his trademark championship tenacity, his body simply couldn't handle the fourth and fifth sets. As the match wore on, it became clear that the end was inevitable. Djokovic couldn't hide his emotions and shed tears, but despite the immense pain, he thanked the fans in New York by sending them a heart with his hands before leaving the court.
Let's not rush into sensational headlines, Novak is still number 5!
Today, the world's and our media are flooded with articles about the "end of an era", announcements of inevitable retirement and dramatic analyses of the decline of the greatest tennis player of all time. But before all those analysts definitively send Novak into retirement through their headlines, we should let one key fact sink into our thoughts: Djokovic is currently ranked 5th on the ATP list!
At 39, he is No. 5 in the world. Not in competition with five players, but in a sea of much younger, physically superior and “hungry” tennis players who are in the prime of their youth (let’s not forget that just seven weeks ago he played in the Wimbledon semifinals). Yes, the physical problems are there and the body is sending signals, but to declare the end and early retirement for the current fifth racket in the world is premature and underestimating everything that he still represents on the court. So, we would say – until the next big tournament.
