If that was the end — and it very much looked like it was — then it was unceremonious conclusion to Novak Djokovic’s illustrious U.S. Open history.
Djokovic, a four-time champion in New York, struggled physically throughout four hours and 36 minutes of pretty much nonstop misery en route to a 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 first-round loss at the hands of Mariano Navone on Sunday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
There was a brief stretch, however, during which Djokovic seemed to take control. The 39-year-old bounced back from dropping a tight first set to take the second and the third. He also led by a break early in the fourth. But even when he was ahead on the scoreboard, Djokovic never looked right. Vomiting, sluggish movement, back treatment at changeovers…the Serb endured it all.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” he commented at his press conference. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year — vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder. I couldn’t close it out, you know?
“I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match.”
In the end, it was too much to overcome. Once Djokovic gave back his break in the fourth, it was downhill the rest of the way. He had almost nothing left for what was an especially painful — but swift — fifth. It did not help the fourth seed that his opponent was also delivering a performance should not be overlooked even though Djokovic’s ouster will dominate headlines. Navone battled impressively to the first five-set victory of his career.
“I don’t want to take too much [away from] his win,” Djokovic continued. “Congrats to him. He’s a nice guy (and) a fighter.”
It has to be especially sweet for the 25-year-old Argentine after he lost to an opponent who was wilting physically at the French Open this spring, when Jakub Mensik beat him 13-11 in a fifth-set tiebreaker before collapsing and leaving the court in a wheelchair.
This time, on an even bigger stage against much longer odds, Navone finished the job.
“I’m very happy,” the world No. 49 said during his on-court interview. “What can I say? It’s unbelievable…. Novak means a lot to me. The beginning of the match was difficult for me, playing with the GOAT on this court. It was a dream come true, 100 percent.”
nice one, Navone
He should quit
Djokovic is still currently in the Top 5 and has as much right as anyone else on tour to compete as he wishes. He’s still in the Leaderboard Top 10 servers and Top 10 under pressure. Anyone else in that position wouldn’t be getting this disapproval from some quarters because they’re competing.
There is no rule that says an athlete must retire at their peak. A lot of 20-something tennis players would give their right arms to be having the success Djokovic has had in the last 12 months, and many currently on tour will never have a year this good, including at Slam level. It’s all relative. Personally I don’t think an athlete loses anything by trying to see how long and how well they can play after their physiological peak, and that it’s fair so long as they aren’t needing wildcards to keep on doing it.
Djokovic is looking at YE ranking around #15. That’s when the chickens will come home to roost.
Oh yes, he will decline further. But I don’t think he will do it in a straight line. If his background condition he’s dealing with improves he could get dangerous again. The problem seems to be five sets. He’d hwve won it in three.
Shoulda played Winston-Salem!😉 Probably has enough vases though.