Novak Djokovic says he is feeling somewhat better after a brutal opening night at the US Open left him vomiting, cramping and struggling to move freely through the final stages of a five-set defeat.
The 39-year-old was spotted in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 1, less than 48 hours after losing to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Asked how he was feeling, Djokovic kept the update brief: “Better. Bit better. A bit better.”
That was a noticeable change from Sunday night, when his physical condition deteriorated across four hours and 36 minutes. Djokovic vomited during the match, battled cramps and dealt with back and shoulder problems before becoming emotional as the crowd continued chanting his name in the fifth set.
The loss ended his latest attempt to become the first singles player to win 25 Grand Slam titles. More concerning for Djokovic was his acknowledgment afterward that the vomiting and related physical problems were not isolated to New York but had been recurring throughout the season.
Djokovic Says He Is ‘A Bit Better’ After the Four-Hour Match
Djokovic gave the short health update when TMZ Sports encountered him in New York. He did not offer a diagnosis or say when he expects to return to training, but his answer indicated that he was feeling at least somewhat better than he had on court Sunday.
He was also asked about the support he received from the New York crowd as the match slipped away. “Always love,” Djokovic said, before expressing his gratitude to the fans who continued trying to lift him through the fifth set.
Djokovic Said His ‘Whole Body’ Began to Collapse
Djokovic was much more detailed about his condition after the match. Speaking to the US Open, he said vomiting had been affecting him during matches throughout the year and described what followed as his “whole body” beginning to collapse through cramping and pain.
His back and shoulder also became increasingly difficult to manage. Djokovic had recovered from losing the first set to take a two-sets-to-one lead and then held a break advantage in the fourth before Navone turned the match around.
Djokovic said he considered stopping earlier in the contest but chose to continue after winning the second and third sets. Even once Navone took control, he said he wanted to finish rather than retire from the match.
The experience was miserable from a physical standpoint, Djokovic acknowledged afterward, but he separated that frustration from his reaction to the crowd. He said the support inside Arthur Ashe Stadium touched him and apologized for being unable to perform at the level he wanted to give them.
Navone Won the Final Two Sets as Djokovic Faded
Navone won 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, reversing the match after Djokovic had moved ahead by two sets to one. The Argentine was also a break down in the fourth before taking five of the final six games in that set and then dominating the fifth.
Reuters reported that Djokovic’s serve and movement became increasingly compromised as his physical problems intensified. He vomited into a courtside bin during the third set and later received treatment as his back and shoulder caused further problems.
Navone, then ranked No. 49 in the world, called defeating Djokovic a dream come true. The 25-year-old had never previously faced Djokovic and had never played a match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic also avoided using his condition to erase Navone’s achievement. He congratulated the Argentine afterward and described him as a fighter.
The Loss Ended a 20-Year First-Round Grand Slam Streak
Djokovic had never lost his opening match in 19 previous US Open appearances. The defeat made him 19-1 in first-round matches in New York and marked his earliest exit there since his tournament debut in 2005.
It was also his first first-round defeat at any major since the 2006 Australian Open. His only other opening-round Grand Slam loss came at the Australian Open one year earlier, making Navone only the third player to beat him in the first round of a major.
Djokovic entered New York as a four-time US Open champion and 24-time major winner. He has previously described competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a long-term goal, but the recurring physical problems have introduced a more immediate question about what his body will allow.
Asked after the Navone match whether those problems could be solved, Djokovic did not pretend to have an answer. “I don’t know. I’m trying, man. I’m trying,” he said.