Novak Djokovic: “I Pretty Much Despised Every Moment That I Spent on the Court” — Four-Time Champion Reflects on Physical Collapse in Shocking US Open Departure

Novak Djokovic pulled no punches when dissecting the physical breakdown that doomed his 2026 US Open campaign on Sunday night. Handed a historic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 defeat by Argentina’s Mariano Navone inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 39-year-old opened up about the severe illness, cramping, and body pain that plagued his four-hour, 36-minute marathon.

The four-time Flushing Meadows champion admitted that while the agony of his physical collapse made every second on court unbearable, the overwhelming support from the New York crowd moved him to tears during the match’s closing stages.

“When it comes to the match itself and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable, and I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that,” Djokovic admitted post-match.

“But from the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible, honestly, from the beginning. They were trying to lift me up in important moments, and I’m very sorry that I didn’t perform as well as I should have or could have or wanted, for them. The love and appreciation they gave me in the end really touched my heart.”

A Battled Mind Meets a Collapsing Body

Trouble surfaced as early as the fourth game of the opening set, with Djokovic battling a recurring physical issue that has hindered his 2026 season. After dropping the first set in a tiebreak, the 24-time Grand Slam champion clawed his way back to win the second and third sets, even taking an early break lead in the fourth set.

Yet behind the temporary surge on the scoreboard, Djokovic revealed he fought off strong impulses to retire from the match altogether.

“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” Djokovic said. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year—vomiting, throwing up, serious issue there. And then my whole body starts to collapse, basically, cramping and pain.”

“Yeah, the back just gave up in the end, and the shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out. I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way, since the fourth game of the match.”

When asked directly if he considered walking off the court, Djokovic acknowledged the internal battle:

“I have, I have. I have, but then I won a set and then [the] third one,” he explained. “Then I was, like, ‘Okay, maybe there is a chance’. Yeah, I didn’t want to give up in fourth or fifth, so I wanted to kind of finish the match.”

Grace in Defeat and Uncertainty Ahead

Despite his deep physical distress, Djokovic refused to diminish the magnitude of Navone’s breakthrough victory. The 25-year-old Argentine capitalized on Djokovic’s physical decline, seizing six break points to earn his first-ever win against a Top 10 player on the Grand Slam stage.

“I don’t want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him,” Djokovic said. “He’s a nice guy, a fighter. But I didn’t enjoy myself.”

The opening-round exit marks only the third time in Djokovic’s storied Grand Slam career that he has fallen in the first round—and his first since the 2006 Australian Open 20 years ago.

“It’s a good record, another one. But, yeah, I’m not really thinking about it,” Djokovic reflected. “Of course, I’ve been very proud of all the achievements in the past, but now is now. Now [it] is fresh off the court and [I am] still trying to manage my body.”

As to whether he can resolve these recurring health struggles as he approaches 40, Djokovic offered a candid, uncertain perspective: