Djokovic took the opening two sets before Navone, ranked well outside the seeds, fought back to level the match and eventually close it out 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on a hard court at Flushing Meadows. The four-time US Open champion appeared to tire physically as the match wore on, with Navone taking control of the closing sets.
The loss is among the more surprising results of the tournament's opening day, given Djokovic's history at the event and his continued pursuit of history in the men's game. It comes on a day that also saw No. 7 seed Daniil Medvedev advance comfortably, beating French qualifier Hugo Gaston in straight sets.
A Tough Draw Gets Tougher
Djokovic's exit reshuffles a men's draw that had been expected to funnel him toward a potential quarterfinal meeting with Medvedev. With both Djokovic and Medvedev sharing a half of the bracket with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who was set to open his own tournament Monday against Roman Safiullin in his first singles match since a wrist injury in April, the loss opens the door for other contenders in that section.
Navone, for his part, moves on to a second-round matchup as the biggest name he has beaten in his career to date, a result that instantly raises his profile heading into the tournament's second week.
What one five-set loss can tell us
An opening-round upset is decisive for the tournament but ambiguous as evidence about a player's longer trajectory. Five-set tennis combines conditioning, recovery, matchup, timing, and pressure; a single match can reveal vulnerability without proving permanent decline. Navone's ability to stay competitive after falling behind is as important to the result as the veteran's late fade.
The better test for Djokovic is cumulative. His scheduling, recovery between tournaments, movement deep into matches, and results against younger top players will show whether this was an isolated defeat or part of a pattern. The loss closes one path to a 25th major, but it does not by itself settle the broader question of what remains possible at age 39.
Next checkpoint
What to watch
Djokovic's health update and schedule, and whether Navone can recover physically for his second-round match.
Evidence
Sources and editorial notes
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