Talia Gibson among Australians to bow out on day one of US Open
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic suffered a rare first-round exit at the US Open after struggling with physical health issues throughout the match. The 39-year-old, who was aiming for his 25th grand slam title, was defeated by Argentinian player Mariano Navone.
Why it matters
The defeat marks a significant decline for one of the most successful athletes in tennis history, signaling a potential end to his dominance.
— 3:27pm , first published August 31, 2026 — 8:23am
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Share A A A An ailing and tearful Novak Djokovic has suffered a shock first-round defeat at the US Open, losing at that stage of a grand slam for the first time in two decades.
The 39-year-old grand slam legend showed signs of being physically compromised as early as the opening set – which he lost – but still managed to win the second and third sets, and was up a break in the fourth before everything changed.
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