In a five-set thriller lasting 4 hours and 40 minutes, N. Djokovic lost 6:7(5), 7:5, 6:4, 2:6, 1:6 to Argentine Mariano Navone (ATP-49), who achieved the most significant victory of his career.
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At the beginning of the fourth set, Nole gained a break advantage (2:1) and was very close to the finish line, but from that moment on he lost 11 of the next 12 games and suffered a shocking defeat.
Throughout the match, the 39-year-old tennis player, who had health problems, vomited several times, and in the fifth set he could no longer hold back tears.
“On the court, I felt simply terrible. Unfortunately, I have been dealing with this in almost every match this year. I constantly vomit, my body is seized by cramps. At the end, my back gave out, and I felt shoulder pain. I don’t want to diminish my opponent’s merits, he played excellently and is a true fighter, but I did not enjoy the game,” Djokovic said, who also considered retiring early during the match.
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It’s hard to believe, but the Serbian tennis legend last lost in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament back in 2006. Overall, this is only his third career loss in the first round of a Grand Slam event.
Meanwhile, M. Navone won a five-set thriller for the first time in five attempts. By comparison, Novak’s record before this match was 42 wins in 54 matches.
In the next round, the Argentine will face Matteo Berrettini (ATP-43) or Stan Wawrinka (ATP-127).
