Ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years earlier on Monday, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open.
Navone's 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory ended Djokovic’s latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title and halted his streak of 78 consecutive first-round Slam wins.
"I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me," said Djokovic, who vomited several times and suffered late-match cramps.
"It's something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there.
"Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, I couldn't close it out."
Despite his physical collapse, Djokovic took a two sets to one lead before losing eight consecutive games as Navone took control.
"I have, I have," Djokovic said, when asked if he had considered throwing in the towel. "But then I won a set and then the third. I didn't want to give up."
Venus Williams also tumbled out of the first round early on Monday, losing in straight sets to compatriot Sofia Kenin. The 46-year-old American – handed a wild card 29 years after reaching the 1997 final as a teenager – lost 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in a match that finished just after 2 am local time.
Kenin appeared to be cruising before Williams mounted a fierce late comeback, recovering to force a tie-break and racing into a 6-2 lead. However, Kenin rattled off six straight points to clinch the win.
Williams, who saluted fans as she left Arthur Ashe Stadium, gave no indication of retirement plans. Her last Grand Slam singles match win came at Wimbledon in 2021, marking six consecutive first-round exits since. She remains in the tournament to play women's doubles alongside her sister Serena.
Elsewhere in the draw, seventh seed Daniil Medvedev advanced smoothly over Hugo Gaston. Jessica Pegula, Dino Prizmic, and Jaume Munar also secured victories to reach the second round, where guaranteed prize money reaches $190 000 (about R3 million). | AFP