Djokovic Breaks Silence After Shock US Open Exit, Reveals Health Struggles

Novak Djokovic has disclosed that a combination of severe vomiting, muscle cramps, back pain and a shoulder problem contributed to his unexpected first-round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone at the US Open.

The 39-year-old Serbian was beaten 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by world number 49 Navone in an exhausting four-and-a-half-hour encounter played in hot and humid conditions at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.

Djokovic visibly struggled with his physical condition during the match and was seen vomiting several times. As the contest progressed, he developed intense cramps and pain that significantly affected his movement and ability to compete at his usual level.

Speaking after the match, Djokovic admitted that he was physically overwhelmed and revealed that the problems were not entirely new.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the former world number one said he had been dealing with similar difficulties during matches throughout the year, particularly when competing in hot and humid conditions.

Djokovic explained that the vomiting was followed by a deterioration in his physical condition, with cramping and pain spreading across his body. He added that his back eventually became too painful and his shoulder problem made it difficult for him to finish the match strongly.

Despite his physical struggles, Djokovic refused to retire and continued until the final point, even after taking a two-sets-to-one lead before Navone fought back to win the final two sets convincingly.

The defeat brought an end to Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. A victory in New York would have seen him move ahead of Australian tennis legend Margaret Court for the outright record for the most Grand Slam singles titles.

The loss also ended Djokovic’s extraordinary run of 78 consecutive Grand Slam first-round victories, a streak that dated back to his defeat by Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.

Djokovic had reached at least the semi-finals in six of his previous seven Grand Slam appearances before the US Open. However, his latest physical struggles have raised concerns about his ability to maintain peak performance during major tournaments, particularly in challenging weather conditions.

The Serbian further revealed that he has been dealing with an underlying health issue for several years, with the condition becoming more noticeable in hot and humid environments.

A similar problem reportedly affected him at the Cincinnati Open two weeks earlier, where he suffered another unexpected early defeat, this time against Argentine player Thiago Tirante.

Djokovic, however, refused to take anything away from Navone’s achievement, congratulating the Argentine for maintaining his composure and fighting spirit throughout the lengthy encounter.

Navone, 25, held his nerve to secure one of the biggest victories of his career, while Djokovic was left visibly emotional following the defeat and broke down in tears during the deciding set before eventually congratulating his opponent.