By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-31 14:51:10 | Updated at 2026-09-06 05:43:18
5 days ago
Down goes Novak! Down goes Novak!
It was a rough Sunday night for tennis legend Novak Djokovic, who was dealing with both physical and internal ailments, made mistake after mistake, and ultimately suffered a massive upset against an opponent who wasn’t intimidated whatsoever. (RELATED: Padres Get Swept By Rays Following Samad Taylor Dropping Ball Over Fence For Home Run)
Djokovic, 39, has been eliminated from the U.S. Open following defeat in the first round against Mariano Navone. Lasting four hours and 36 minutes, and going five sets, the icon lost 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
In the entirety of Djokovic’s career, it’s the longest opening-round Grand Slam match he’s ever played in, and his exit from the tournament is also his earliest in two decades, dating back to the Australian Open in 2006. Prior to Sunday night, he never had a first-round loss in the U.S. Open.
Mariano Navone defeats 24-time Grand Slam Champion Novak Djokovic in five sets. pic.twitter.com/BE8Dn3qC8j
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2026We need to put a huge asterisk beside this victory for Mariano Navone.
Nothing against him, but we had Djokovic throwing up, cramping, getting lower back massages, swallowing pills, getting shots; that’s just way too much to combat in the U.S. Open out of all tournaments.
Djokovic had 70 unforced errors in the match … when do you last remember Djokovic having 70 unforced errors?
Exactly.
I see people talking about how he should retire and all that noise, and hey, I get it, he’s almost 40 years old. But considering how this hasn’t happened since 2006, I think we should give him another shot.
I mean, after all, he’s only the GREATEST TENNIS PLAYER OF ALL-TIME.
