Djokovic's Historic First-Round US Open Exit: What It Means for 2027

Novak Djokovic has lost in the first round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2006 Australian Open. Argentina's Mariano Navone beat the No. 4 seed 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in 4 hours and 36 minutes on Sunday, August 30, 2026. It was Djokovic's first opening-round loss at the US Open.

What Happened

Navone, 25 and ranked No. 49, won a first-set tiebreak. Djokovic took the next two sets 7-5 and 6-4, but he vomited midway through the match and was hampered by back and shoulder problems, and Navone won the last two sets 6-2, 6-1. "I wanted to finish the match," Djokovic said. "But I didn't enjoy myself."

Why the Streak Matters

Djokovic's previous first-round loss at a major came at the 2006 Australian Open, when he was 18. All 24 of his Grand Slam titles came after it. Losing in the first round at the US Open, which he has won four times, raises questions about his health and schedule. After the tournament he dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since July 2018.

See how Djokovic's full record stacks up on our Novak Djokovic player profile, and check the rest of the men's field in our 2027 player entry list.

What It Means for Roland-Garros 2027

Djokovic won Roland-Garros in 2016, 2021 and 2023, and in 2026 he lost a five-set third-round match there to Joao Fonseca. An early exit at 39 while visibly unwell is a real data point. He has the winter to recover, and how he responds will decide whether he goes into Roland-Garros 2027 (May 17 to June 6) as a title threat or as a veteran managing his body. The men's field was also hit by Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the US Open with a knee injury; read our Sinner withdrawal recap.

Update, November 2, 2026: Alexander Zverev won the 2026 US Open, beating Ben Shelton in the final. Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing in October, the 102nd title of his career.

An Open Field Gets More Open

With Sinner out and Djokovic gone in round one, top seed Zverev and second seed Carlos Alcaraz, back from his own injury layoff, became the highest seeds left in New York. Track the contenders for next spring on our champions history page and our early Roland-Garros 2027 odds.

Planning Ahead for Roland-Garros 2027

Roland-Garros 2027 starts with qualifying on May 17, 2027. Single tickets are sold only on tickets.rolandgarros.com; GoalTickets, the independent resale marketplace that runs this site, lists resale tickets, usually above face value. Explore our player profiles to get to know the contenders.

Sources: Khaleej Times (score, duration and quotes, August 31, 2026), Wikipedia (2026 US Open men's singles), Punto de Break. Checked November 2, 2026.