NEW YORK — An ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his first opening-round defeat in a Grand Slam event for more than 20 years as he was beaten 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Argentina’s Mariano Navone on Sunday.
Djokovic vomited courtside several times and looked in severe pain at times in the last set and a half as the 25-year-old Navone clinched the biggest victory of his career.
Djokovic, 39, battled to the end, but had nothing left as the Argentinian inflicted his first defeat in Round 1 at a major since the 2006 Australian Open. Navone won 11 of the last 12 games to triumph after 4 hours, 35 minutes.
“When it comes to match itself and overall feeling of how I felt with body and playing, it was really not enjoyable,” Djokovic said after the match. “I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.”
Here’s what happened — and what it might mean.
Source: ESPN
