Questions abound for Novak Djokovic after US Open loss and 3 years without a Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic, a tennis legend with 24 Grand Slam singles titles, suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades after losing his opening match at the U.S. Open to Mariano Navone. Djokovic, 39, had his bags hanging from his shoulders as he walked off the court, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, including his young children. This loss marked the first time he lost his opener at the U.S. Open, a tournament he has reached two finals and six semifinals in the past three years.

Djokovic's struggles with physical issues have been a recurring theme this year. After winning the Australian Open final, he played little due to a right shoulder injury. At the French Open, he was weakened by a Paris heat wave in a five-set loss to Joao Fonseca, stating that he was "barely standing on my legs" at the end of the match.

He has continued to face challenges at Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open this month, struggling in hot and humid conditions and even vomiting during a match. Djokovic attributes his issues to a health condition that has been bothering him for the past couple of years, affecting his performance, particularly in heat and humidity.