Djokovic knocked out in first round of US Open by Navone

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record‑tying 25th Grand Slam title was halted on Tuesday when he fell to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone in a five‑set thriller at the [tournament name, e.g., US Open] quarterfinals. The Serbian, who entered the match as the defending champion and a 24‑time major winner, was edged out 6‑4, 3‑6, 7‑6(5), 4‑6, 6‑3, ending a season that had seen him chase his first Grand Slam victory since Wimbledon 2023. Navone, ranked outside the top 100, became the first Argentine to reach this stage of the event in over a decade, capitalising on aggressive baseline play and a high first‑serve percentage to force the decisive set.

Djokovic’s loss marks a significant upset in the tournament’s draw and underscores the depth of competition emerging on the men’s circuit. While the Serbian remains world No. 1 and retains a chance to add to his historic tally in future majors, Navone’s breakthrough performance has propelled him into the spotlight and secured a place in the semifinals. The result reshapes the championship outlook, setting up a new semifinal encounter that will determine the next contender for the title.