Katch of the Day — Sept. 1
Djokovic Is OUT of the U.S. Open
Djokovic is OUT. One match into the U.S. Open, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is going home. Here’s the Katch.
THE KATCH: Unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone knocked 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic out of the 2026 US Open in the first round, winning a 4-hour, 36-minute five-set match, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. It is Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years.
Why it matters: Djokovic was chasing the elusive 25th Grand Slam singles title, but at 39 his body became as much of the story as the upset. He dealt with vomiting, cramping and other physical problems during the match before Navone took control in the final two sets.
FAST FACTS: Djokovic hadn’t lost in the first round of a major since the 2006 Australian Open. He actually led Navone two sets to one before fading. And there’s a fantastic human hook: Navone grew up idolizing Djokovic.
YOU’RE KAUGHT UP.
One of tennis’s greatest players is out of the U.S. Open after one match — and the conversation has quickly shifted from whether Djokovic could win No. 25 to how much longer his body will let him chase it.
Source: Official U.S. Open
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