'I despised every moment'
Tennis star Novak Djokovic suffered a first-round exit at the US Open, admitting he felt physically unwell and 'despised' his time on the court. The 39-year-old athlete revealed he has been struggling with a serious, recurring health issue that causes vomiting and physical collapse.
Why it matters
As one of the most successful athletes in tennis history, Djokovic's health struggles and early exit represent a major shift in the competitive landscape of the sport.
Novak Djokovic said he "despised" every moment of the five-set, near five-hour ordeal which ended his US Open hopes in the first round.
The 39-year-old also admitted the underlying health issue he first revealed two weeks ago was "serious", although he remains intent on getting the problem fixed.
Djokovic looked physically spent, was repeatedly sick and regularly doubled over in pain, but still took Argentina's Mariano Navone the distance.
However, the 24-time grand slam champion could not prevent a 7-6 (5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 defeat and first exit in the opening round of a major since Paul Goldstein beat him at the Australian Open in 2006.
"I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me," said Djokovic.
"It's something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there.
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