US Open Day One Round-Up | Novak Djokovic crashes out as Navone wins five-set thriller

The opening day of the US Open has already delivered a major shock, with Mariano Navone eliminating Novak Djokovic in a five-set battle after the 24-time Grand Slam champion was visibly affected by physical problems throughout the contest. Djokovic fought his way into a two-sets-to-one lead, but Navone turned the match around to win 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and send the Serbian out in the first round.

The day also featured strong starts from Daniil Medvedev and Denis Shapovalov, while Tommy Paul recovered from losing the opening set against Coleman Wong. Jaime Faria also survived a marathon against Jenson Brooksby, who came back from two sets down before the Portuguese regained control in the decider.

Navone delivered the biggest upset of the opening day by eliminating Djokovic in a five-set battle that increasingly became a physical test for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. The Argentine recovered from an early break in the opening set to force a tiebreak, where he took the lead as Djokovic already appeared to be struggling with his movement and energy.

Djokovic responded in the second, producing a much more controlled performance in the long exchanges. After both players protected their serves for most of the set, the Serbian found a break in the 11th game before serving it out to level the match. He then edged the third set with another late break, moving within one set of surviving the scare.

But the physical problems became impossible to ignore. Djokovic appeared increasingly exhausted and vomited during the match, while Navone continued to push him around the court. The Argentine took advantage in the fourth, winning five consecutive games after trailing 1-2, before carrying the momentum into the decider. After moving 3-0 ahead, Navone stayed composed to complete the victory and end Djokovic's US Open campaign at the first hurdle.

Tommy Paul had to come from a set down before eventually putting away Coleman Wong in four sets. The American was in position to take control of the match early, leading 5-3 and serving for the opening set, but Wong refused to let him close it out. The qualifier recovered the break and carried that momentum into the tiebreak, where he played aggressively and took the opener 7-3.

That was effectively the turning point of the match. Paul came out of the changeover with a completely different level, winning five consecutive games as Wong struggled to reproduce the serving and shotmaking that had carried him through the opening set. The American quickly levelled the match 6-1 and then continued to put increasing pressure on Wong's serve.

From there, Paul never allowed the match to return to the same balance. Wong continued to fight and produced 15 aces overall, but Paul became increasingly effective on return and broke six times across the match. The 20th seed took the third and fourth sets 6-3, completing the comeback in 2 hours and 43 minutes and avoiding what would have been a major first-round upset.

Daniil Medvedev avoided any repeat of his dramatic first-round exit from last year's US Open with a controlled victory over qualifier Hugo Gaston. The seventh seed was tested early by the Frenchman's unconventional style, but Medvedev gradually found the right balance between patience and aggression and took the opening set after a single break.

Gaston tried to disrupt Medvedev's rhythm with changes of pace and frequent trips forward, but the Russian consistently found answers. One of the most telling moments came when Gaston attempted an underarm serve while serving at 40-30 for 3-3; Medvedev read it, won the point and then broke to take control of the set. From there, the former champion barely gave his opponent a route back into the match.

The second set was even more convincing as Medvedev broke twice and moved 6-2 ahead, before another early break in the third put him firmly on course for victory. Gaston had only one break-point opportunity during the entire match, while Medvedev hit 10 aces and won 83% of his first-serve points. He eventually closed out the 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory in 2 hours and 14 minutes, earning a much calmer start in New York than he had 12 months earlier.

Denis Shapovalov survived a momentum swing against Miomir Kecmanović before taking complete control of their first-round meeting. The Canadian made the stronger start, breaking early and moving 3-0 ahead, and although Kecmanović recovered the break late in the set, Shapovalov immediately responded with another to take the opener 6-4.

The second set was much tighter, with neither player creating a break point until Kecmanović finally found his opening at 4-4. The Serbian converted it and held his nerve to level the match, leaving Shapovalov needing to regain control after allowing his opponent back into the contest.

Kecmanović looked ready to complete the turnaround when he moved 4-2 ahead in the third. Instead, that became the moment Shapovalov changed the match. The Canadian raised his level, won four straight games and took the set 6-4, then carried that momentum straight into the fourth. He won seven consecutive games from 4-4 in the third through 1-0 in the fourth, and Kecmanović could not recover. Shapovalov closed out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory and will face Luca Van Assche next.

Jaime Faria let a commanding position slip before recovering to defeat Jenson Brooksby in a near four-hour battle. The Portuguese took the first two sets, winning the opener 6-3 before edging a second-set tiebreak, and appeared to be on course for a relatively straightforward victory.

Brooksby had other ideas. The American completely changed the match after going two sets down, taking advantage of a drop in Faria's level to win the third and then producing an even stronger fourth set. He repeatedly put Faria under pressure on serve and stormed through the set 6-1, turning a match that had looked almost over into a deciding-set battle.

The fifth set finally swung back toward Faria. After surviving Brooksby's comeback, the Portuguese regained his composure and took control of the decider, breaking at key moments to build a decisive advantage before closing it out 6-2. The victory continues an excellent Grand Slam season for Faria, who has now reached at least the second round at all four majors in 2026.