Novak Djokovic’s 2026 US Open began in the worst possible way, as he was beaten in the first round in New York for the first time in his career. The result also triggers a significant slide in the ATP Rankings.

With Jannik Sinner sidelined at Flushing Meadows because of a knee problem and Carlos Alcaraz still recovering from a wrist injury, Djokovic had been viewed by some as a leading contender for the season-ending major. Seeded fourth, he also appeared to have a workable section of the draw, with 16th seed Brandon Nakashima the highest-ranked player in his part of the bracket and a possible quarter-final meeting with seventh seed Daniil Medvedev or 11th seed Frances Tiafoe.

Few expected Mariano Navone to create serious trouble in the opening round. The Argentine was only making his third US Open appearance and had won just once at the event before this match.

Yet Navone pushed Djokovic early, taking the first set before the former world No 1 responded by winning the next two. Djokovic then seemed positioned to close it out after moving 2-1 ahead in the fourth set and earning an early break. But the world No 49 seized control from there, aided by Djokovic’s illness and lower back problem, and finished strongly by taking 11 of the last 12 games to complete a 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Navone will next face either Matteo Berrettini or Stan Wawrinka, while Djokovic heads home.

The defeat carries a major ranking cost. Djokovic reached the semi-final at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 match that earned him 800 points. This year, a first-round exit is worth only 10 points, leaving him to drop 790 points overall.

He began the tournament at No 5 in the official rankings with 3,770 points, but has fallen six places to No 11 in the Live ATP Rankings, his lowest position in eight years, having last gone as low as No 21 in July 2018.

Prize money is unlikely to be a concern in the immediate aftermath, though Djokovic will still collect $140,000 for his first-round exit. His career earnings stand at $194,691,590, including $3,017,725 already earned in 2026.

Arthur Ashe Stadium witnessed an emotional night as Novak Djokovic was overcome with tears in the middle of his first-round loss to Mariano Navone.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared in control early. After losing the opening set, he responded by taking the next two and even moved ahead with an early break in the fourth. From there, however, the match swung sharply in Navone’s favour. Djokovic won only one more game the rest of the way as Navone claimed the fourth set 6-2 and the fifth 6-1 to complete a 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory after four hours and 36 minutes.

The result leaves Djokovic still searching for a 25th major title. It was his first defeat in the opening round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open, and his first-ever exit in the round of 128 at the US Open.

Physical problems clearly shaped the contest. Djokovic had already spoken after his Cincinnati Open defeat about the “health issues” that have troubled him for the past couple of years, especially in humid and hot conditions. Those same issues were again visible on Arthur Ashe.

He vomited several times during the match and later needed treatment on a lower-back problem. At points during the fourth and fifth sets, he could barely move as cramping set in. The strain became impossible to hide when he began crying while trailing Navone 1-3 in the fifth set. Three games later, his 2026 US Open ended.

There was still respect from the crowd as he left Arthur Ashe Stadium to a standing ovation. He also paused to sign autographs on his way out.

The defeat carried one more striking note: for the first time since 2003, none of the Big Three, Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, will appear in the second round of a Grand Slam.

23 years.

The 2026 US Open has begun to reshape the WTA rankings picture, with points from last year’s tournament now dropping and a new live world No. 1 emerging.

Aryna Sabalenka, who was defending 2,000 points from her title a year ago, has been overtaken by Elena Rybakina in the Live WTA Rankings. Rybakina, by contrast, was only due to lose 240 points, which has allowed her to move ahead. She controls her own fate from here, and a place in the semi-final would be enough to end Sabalenka’s long run at the top, a stretch that began in October 2024, and make her the 30th player to reach No. 1 in the WTA Rankings.

Sabalenka now faces pressure on another front as well. Jessica Pegula is only 90 points behind her in third, while Coco Gauff sits a further 21 points back in fourth. If Sabalenka exits early at Flushing Meadows, she could slide to No. 4 when the rankings are updated again on 14 September, provided Pegula and Gauff outperform her result.

Elsewhere in the Live WTA Rankings, Elina Svitolina has moved up two places, while Karolina Muchova and Iga Swiatek have each slipped one spot. Naomi Osaka, a semi-finalist last year, has dropped five places to No. 18 after 780 points came off her total.

That has helped Victoria Mboko, Diana Shnaider, Sorana Cirstea and Alex Eala move up, with Eala sitting at a provisional career high. Barbora Krejcikova has already exited after a straight-sets loss to Khamila Rakhimova and falls from No. 29 to No. 36 after losing 420 points. Emma Raducanu is No. 70 in the official rankings and currently -14 in the Live Rankings, while Katie Boulter is up 13 places to No. 49 after winning her opening match.