Novak Djokovic has admitted he is unsure “how much longer” he can continue after a punishing physical ordeal ended his US Open campaign in the first round. The 39-year-old broke down in tears after losing 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 to Mariano Navone, with his comments raising fresh questions over his future in tennis.
Djokovic’s physical problems were visible from the early stages of his first-round clash with Navone, as he struggled with the humid conditions at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Speaking at the press conference after the match, the 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed the extent of the issues that had affected him throughout the contest.
“The vomiting, the gagging, it’s a serious problem. Then my whole body started to give way, with cramps and pain,” Djokovic said. “In the end, my back and shoulder also gave out, and I couldn’t finish the match. I was a break up in the fourth set, but I had already been struggling a lot from the fourth game onwards.”
Djokovic was then asked how he could address the physical problems and what he had learned from the difficult period. His response offered perhaps the biggest indication yet that he is beginning to question how much longer he can continue at the highest level.
“I don’t know [how I can solve it]. At the moment, I don’t want to go into too much detail. I’m just trying to understand what’s going on and how much longer I can keep going like this,” Djokovic said.
The Serbian had looked increasingly drained as the match progressed. He vomited during the third set but somehow recovered to win the second and third sets after dropping the opener, only for Navone to regain control in the fourth before dominating the deciding set.
DJOKOVIC FOUGHT THROUGH THE PAIN
Djokovic’s physical struggles were evident even before the vomiting incident. He used an ice bag on his head during the humid conditions and asked whether the air conditioning could be switched on after the roof was closed because of rain.
After vomiting during the third set, Djokovic received tablets from a tournament physio and fluids from his team courtside. He still managed to break Navone and move ahead in the fourth set, but his back and shoulder problems eventually affected his serve.
Navone capitalised on Djokovic’s fading energy, winning the fourth set 6-2 before taking the decider 6-1. Djokovic admitted that the thought of stopping had crossed his mind, but he refused to walk away.
“Yes, I did,” Djokovic said when asked whether he had considered giving up. “But then I won one set and then another. At that point I said to myself: ‘OK, maybe there is a chance.’ I didn’t want to give up in the fourth or fifth set. I wanted to finish the match.”
AN EXTRAORDINARY GRAND SLAM RUN ENDS
The defeat brought Djokovic’s remarkable Grand Slam opening-round record to an end. He had won 78 consecutive first-round matches at the majors, with his previous defeat at that stage coming against Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.
It also ended his latest attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic had reached the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this year, but entered New York with limited preparation after losing his only Cincinnati match to Thiago Agustin Tirante.
The Serbian’s disappointment was clear after the defeat as he broke down in tears on court. He later praised Navone and acknowledged the support from the New York crowd, but admitted that the physical experience had been extremely difficult.
“I don’t want to take anything away from his victory. Congratulations to him. He’s a good guy and a fighter. But I didn’t have fun out there,” Djokovic said.
For now, Djokovic’s next step is to understand the physical problems that have affected him repeatedly this season. His comments in New York have ensured that the question of how much longer he can continue will remain a major talking point.
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