Novak Djokovic ‘despised’ every moment of five-set US Open defeat
The exit is the 39-year-old’s first in the opening round of a major since Paul Goldstein beat him at the Australian Open in 2006
Novak Djokovic's first-round exit at the US Open entailed a grueling five-set, five-hour defeat against Argentina's Mariano Navone. The 39-year-old tennis legend admitted he "despised" every moment on court, citing physical exhaustion, vomiting, and severe pain as the reasons. Despite leading the fourth game of the match, Djokovic's body betrayed him, culminating in a loss that marked his first opening-round defeat in a major tournament since 2006.
He later revealed that the underlying health issue he had disclosed two weeks ago was serious. Djokovic's ordeal lasted four hours and 36 minutes, with his frequent collapses and vomiting adding to the agony. Despite his best efforts, he could not overcome Navone's resilience, marking a significant setback in Djokovic's otherwise illustrious career.
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