조코비치 ‘구토’ 끝에…20년 만에 메이저 대회 1회전 탈락

Noverak Kovačić, a tennis player from Serbia, has suffered a setback after being eliminated in the first round of the major tournament for the 20th time in his career. This marks a disappointing end to his 25th major championship attempt. Kovačić faced the 49th-ranked Maria Nabolen (25 from Argentina) in the US Open men's singles first round at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on the 31st (KST).

The 39-year-old Kovačić found himself unable to maintain his physical strength during the four-hour, 36-minute match. His first major tournament loss since 2006 came after a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to American player Paul Goldstein, following a 78-match winning streak in major tournaments. The oppressive heat, humidity, and Kovačić's physical condition further compounded his struggles.

Although he managed to win the first set via a tiebreak, he subsequently lost the next two sets before eventually losing the final set 0-3. Kovačić requested a medical timeout to receive treatment for his ailing back and shoulder, but it was too late to reverse the flow of the game. He admitted to making 70 unforced errors during the match and attributed his defeat to his body's inability to cope.

This was Kovačić's second loss in the preceding two weeks, as he also lost to Argentine player Tiago Agustín Tirante in the first round of the French Open. Kovačić's quest for his 25th major title remains unfulfilled, leaving him with a yearning to add another trophy to his collection. The victory would have made him the joint-record holder for the most Major singles titles won by a man and woman combined.

Nabolen, who had never faced Kovačić before in a major, expressed his elation, saying, "Fighting with the 'GOAT' in five sets is not an everyday experience. My dream has come true."