US Open 2026: Novak Djokovic stunned by Mariano Navone in historic first-round defeat

New York: The US Open's Sunday (local time) start offers some competitors a chance to secure an early advantage. For Novak Djokovic, it resulted in a stunningly quick exit back to the airport.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered a first-round defeat at the US Open for the first time in his career, falling 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to Argentina's Mariano Navone.

Djokovic had previously held a 19-0 record in opening-round matches at the US Open and had not lost his first fixture at any major since the 2006 Australian Open. However, the fourth seed and four-time Flushing Meadows champion showed every bit of his 39 years, vomiting and struggling with leg issues during a contest that lasted over four and a half hours.

Much earlier in the day, Jessica Pegula became the initial winner at Arthur Ashe Stadium, having discovered the perks of competing on Sunday during last year's event.

“It is a little bit weird, but I did kind of enjoy that I could breathe for the next couple of days and everyone else is still freaking out about whether they're going to win their first round,” she said.

Djokovic subsequently experienced the alternative outcome.

“We were just talking about it, and I said, it's so nice to play on Sunday when you win. But if you lose, it's not nice, because you feel like the tournament didn't even start and you're out of it,” 11th seed Marta Kostyuk said.

Both Pegula and Kostyuk secured routine victories, earning an additional day of rest prior to their second-round appearances.

Djokovic will miss out on the second round for the first time in his US Open career, having previously never failed to reach at least the third round. His match was halted during the opening set to allow the retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium to be closed due to rain, which suspended play across the outer courts.

The third-seeded Pegula defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. She admitted to early nerves, a understandable reaction given the stakes for the 2024 US Open finalist.

Pegula currently leads the women's tour with 46 match victories this season, collecting two titles alongside three runner-up finishes. She could claim the world No. 1 ranking should she capture her maiden major title while second-ranked Elena Rybakina falls before the semi-finals.

Pegula progresses to face the winner of the evening match between Venus Williams and fellow wild card Sofia Kenin. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, are also scheduled to team up in the doubles draw.

“I felt really nervous before I went out there, but I know my coaches were like, You didn't really look that nervous. We thought you played great,” Pegula said.

The 11th-seeded Kostyuk also delivered a commanding performance, defeating Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-1 to open her campaign at the year's final major following semi-final runs at both the French Open and Wimbledon.

A Sunday start, but major contenders wait until Monday

This marked the second consecutive year featuring a Sunday schedule, though several marquee players do not open their campaigns until Monday. Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka begins her title defence against Camila Osorio, before Carlos Alcaraz, who claimed his second US Open crown last year, plays his first singles match since April after recovering from a right wrist injury.

Former US Open champions Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, Sloane Stephens and Stan Wawrinka are likewise scheduled for Monday, alongside reigning Wimbledon women's champion Linda Noskova and men's contenders Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe.

Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, put aside a difficult build-up to the event by defeating Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. The seventh seed had managed just a 1-3 record during the North American hard-court swing, a stretch where he typically excels.

“Last couple of weeks was not easy,” Medvedev said. “But I'm happy that today I managed to produce high-level tennis.”

Rain creates disruption despite roofed stadiums

Additional winners on Sunday included ninth seed Elina Svitolina, 19th seed Jasmine Paolini and 31st seed Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up. However, 27th seed Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, fell 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Kamilla Rakhimova.

American Tommy Paul, seeded 20th, recovered from dropping a first-set tiebreak against Coleman Wong to secure a 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory. A year ago, Wong became the first player from Hong Kong to win an Open-era Grand Slam men's singles match en route to the round of 32.

Seven matches could not be completed due to rain, while another suffered delays despite being staged inside the tournament's second roofed venue. A mechanical defect involving a sensor at Louis Armstrong Stadium meant that even after the roof closed, the court required drying before 15th seed Alexander Bublik completed his win over J.J. Wolf.

Elsewhere in the draw, 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic and 2022 finalist Casper Ruud both withdrew prior to their matches citing injury.

The US Open continues its expansion

Although main-draw action launched on Sunday, activity at Flushing Meadows has been underway for nearly a week. Substantial crowds attended the mixed doubles event, an exhibition featuring Roger Federer's return to the grounds, and the singles qualifying rounds, all of which offered free grounds admission to fans.

AP