Ailing Djokovic 'despised' every moment of US Open defeat

Novak Djokovic, the former world No.1, suffered his earliest Grand Slam defeat in two decades at the US Open, losing to Mariano Navone in a grueling five-set match. The 39-year-old Serbian tennis legend, who had been on a 78-match winning streak at Grand Slams, began feeling discomfort early in the game, taking Navone, 25, the distance after a marathon four and a half hours on the court.

Djokovic, who had previously battled through the same health issue that affected him in the Cincinnati tournament two weeks prior, admitted that he despised every moment of the ordeal at Flushing Meadows. The exact nature of his unspecified medical issue, which has been plaguing him for years, remains undisclosed. Despite his age and the ailment, Djokovic remains determined to continue playing tennis, even if it's unclear whether the problem can be resolved.