Djokovic: "A serious problem, my whole body just started to shut down"
After the sensational first-round exit at the US Open to Navone, the 39-year-old Serb spoke about the vomiting, cramps, and the health issue that has been accompanying him. Following the loss, he will drop out of the top 10 for the first time in eight years.
The sensational exit of Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open — for the first time in his career and twenty years after it happened to him in the first round in Australia in 2006 — received a worrying explanation from the 39-year-old Serb after the match.
Djokovic succumbed tonight (between Saturday and Sunday) to Mariano Navone after four hours and 36 minutes and five sets. In a match where he vomited several times, dealt with cramps, and struggled to move in the decisive moments, he later revealed that he has been dealing with a health issue for a long time that continues to affect him.
"I think it was clear that it was a terrible feeling for me on the court. It is something that, unfortunately, I carry with me in almost every match this year. Vomiting, it is a serious problem. After that, my whole body started to shut down with cramps and pain. The back just gave up at the end, and also the shoulder, and I couldn't close out the match." — said Djokovic.
Djokovic actually managed to recover from a loss in the first set, won the next two, and even achieved a break on the way to a 1:2 lead in the fourth, but from there his condition worsened. "I was leading with a break in the fourth set, but I struggled throughout the way from the fourth game of the match," he said. "I don't want to take too much away from his victory. Congratulations to him. He is a nice guy, a fighter. But I didn't enjoy it."
Djokovic's physical difficulties did not start in New York. In his previous appearance, in Cincinnati about two weeks ago, he collapsed on his knees and vomited into a towel during the loss to Thiago Tirante. In fact, already after that match, he revealed that he has been dealing with a "health issue" for "many years" and that it affects him in heat and humidity conditions.
This time, too, the signs appeared at an early stage. Djokovic's cheeks turned red and his hair was soaked with sweat already in the middle of the first set. Later, he vomited next to the court, but still managed to break to 5:6 in the second set and win it. After vomiting again during the third set, he used his only break opportunity to get within one set of victory.
However, in the fourth set, Djokovic vomited once more, and later landed awkwardly after one of the shots and dropped his racket. His condition worsened, he appeared to be suffering from cramps and could barely move, as Navone took advantage of this on the way to a comeback. The Serb won only one game in the fifth set and finished the match with 70 unforced errors.
The loss broke an extraordinary streak for Djokovic, who had won 78 consecutive first-round matches in Grand Slam tournaments. The last time he lost at this stage was against Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open. Following the exit, he will also drop out of the top 10 in the ATP rankings for the first time in eight years.
Navone, who grew up admiring Djokovic, struggled to process the magnitude of the achievement. "It was very hard for me because you are playing against the GOAT on this court," said the Argentine. "This is definitely the best feeling I've had on a court. It's an amazing court and the biggest stage. The way we played, five sets - I am very happy. I don't know, what can I even say?"
