{
  "id": 4580932,
  "title": "Djokovic crashes out of US Open first round",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/djokovic-crashes-out-of-us-open-first-round",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-31T05:54:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/djokovic-crashes-out-of-us-open-first-round/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Novak Djokovic, the 39-year-old Serbian tennis player and holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, has been eliminated from the US Open in the first round. He lost to Mariano Navone, a 25-year-old Argentine player ranked 48th in the world, in a five-set match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes. The final score was 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.\n\nDjokovic struggled physically throughout the match, vomiting on court and experiencing cramps. He took a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, receiving a massage on his spine and medication. Despite his efforts, he was unable to recover and ultimately lost the match. This is Djokovic's earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years, and his first loss in the opening round at the US Open.\n\nNavone described the win as \"a dream come true\" and said it was an honor to play against Djokovic, whom he considers the greatest of all time. Djokovic was visibly emotional after the match, breaking down in tears as he congratulated Navone on his victory. The loss ends Djokovic's bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Djokovic stunned in US Open first round by Navone",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/djokovic-stunned-in-us-open-first-round-by-navone",
        "published": "2026-08-31T04:05:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Djokovic in tears during US Open first-round exit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/djokovic-in-tears-during-us-open-first-round-exit",
        "published": "2026-08-31T04:16:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Djokovic stunned in US Open first round by Navone",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/djokovic-stunned-in-us-open-first-round-by-navone-4577550",
        "published": "2026-08-31T04:50:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Novak Djokovic knocked out of US Open in first round by Mariano Navone",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/novak-djokovic-knocked-out-of-us-open-in-first-round-by-mariano-navone",
        "published": "2026-08-31T05:32:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Djokovic crashes out of US Open first round",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/djokovic-crashes-out-of-us-open-first-round-4582041",
        "published": "2026-08-31T06:00:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Djokovic suffers shock first round exit at US Open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/djokovic-suffers-shock-first-round-exit-at-us-open",
        "published": "2026-08-31T06:23:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Physical woes dog Djokovic in shock US Open loss",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/physical-woes-dog-djokovic-in-shock-us-open-loss",
        "published": "2026-08-31T06:29:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Sofia Kenin dismisses Venus Williams in US Open first round",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/sofia-kenin-dismisses-venus-williams-in-us-open-first-round",
        "published": "2026-08-31T06:31:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}