Novak Djokovic’s loss in the first round of the US Open was a tough watch for fans of the all-time great. For years they have seen the Serbian dominate on court, even in his older age, but the difficulty that he went through against Mariano Navone was a sad reality check.
Over the course of four hours and 36 minutes, Djokovic was pushed to a physical limit. Like in Cincinnati, where he revealed that he has been dealing with an underlying health condition which affects his performances in hot and humid conditions, he struggled throughout the five-set encounter, taking medical timeouts as the game eventually got away from him.
It was the first time he had exited a Grand Slam in the first round since 2006, but with the issues he has struggled through, it seems as though Father Time is catching up with Djokovic. And that gives doubt to whether that elusive 25th major will ever fall his way.
Rivals’ issues ahead of Flushing Meadows made this his best chance
Despite Djokovic’s shortcomings against Thiago Tirante at Cincinnati, he still will have traveled to New York confident that he could recapture his best form. And optimism of a first Slam since winning at Flushing Meadows in 2023 will only have grown after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal was confirmed.
Between the Italian’s right knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz’s return after a lengthy injury layoff of his own, it certainly felt as though the stars were aligning for Djokovic to take control in the USA. And a failure to do so with the two best on the tour either not competing or not match sharp begs the question for the 39-year-old – if not now, when?
His attention will now be turning to early 2027, as Djokovic bids to make a triumphant return to Melbourne. For those looking to back him or place wagers on other tennis games, use a Stake.com promo code to make your predictions.
What next for Djokovic as he continues to hunt for 25th major?
There’s no doubt that after struggling in both Cincinnati and New York, a period of recovery is what Djokovic needs most right now. But he added after the loss to Navone that he is still keen to play in all four Grand Slams and will discuss what is best for him with his team.
However, it feels as though his best chance of capturing a 25th major might have now passed. When tennis returns to Melbourne for the first Slam of the new year, both Sinner and Alcaraz will likely be back to their best, and with Djokovic’s recent struggles on the court, there are serious questions about whether he will ever be able to perform at a level which matches the two best players in the world.
After his loss to Navone, the Serbian is set to fall out of the top 10 players in world tennis for the first time since July 2018. For Djokovic to make it back to the top and clinch another major before retiring, it will be up there with his most remarkable achievement yet.
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