The 2026 US Open has delivered immediate drama, with several high-profile competitors already eliminated from the tournament. Most notably, fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic experienced a historic collapse in the opening round, falling to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone in a five-set marathon. The defeat marks Djokovic’s first first-round exit at a Grand Slam event in two decades, ending his pursuit of a 25th major championship.
Djokovic’s performance on court was notably affected by the challenging conditions at Flushing Meadows. The veteran Serbian player struggled visibly throughout the match, dealing with physical difficulties that included multiple instances of illness. His emotional response underscored the difficulty of the loss, coming after two decades of dominance in the early rounds of major tournaments.
The upsets extended beyond Djokovic’s surprising departure. British 29th seed Cameron Norrie exited in straight sets to Frenchman Luca Van Assche, while 10th seed Arthur Fils also fell in the first round. Several other seeded players, including Casper Ruud, were forced to withdraw due to injury. However, there were victories for top-ranked players, including seventh-seeded Daniil Medvedev and third-seeded Jessica Pegula, who advanced past their opening-round opponents and maintained their championship hopes.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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