US Open Tennis Results 2026: The 2026 Flushing Meadows tournament delivered an unforgettable opening day as 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest major exit in over two decades. On a day marked by physical strain and fierce competition, world No. 49 Mariano Navone produced the match of his life to eliminate the Serbian star in five sets. Elsewhere in the draw, former champion Daniil Medvedev and American contender Jessica Pegula secured straightforward victories to advance to the second round.
Historic Upset: Novak Djokovic Stunned by Mariano Navone
In one of the most unexpected US Open tennis results in recent history, 39-year-old Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the first round by Argentina’s Mariano Navone. The 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory marked Navone’s biggest career win and ended Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown.
The defeat marks Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2006 Australian Open. Throughout the four-hour battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the four-time US Open champion visibly struggled with shoulder stiffness, back pain, and severe physical exhaustion.
“I pretty much despised every moment I spent on the court for that,” Djokovic stated in his post-match press conference. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up… Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.”
Navone, who entered the match with respect for his childhood idol, capitalized on Djokovic’s declining service speed and restricted lateral movement in the final two sets. After dropping the second and third sets, Navone elevated his baseline intensity, breaking Djokovic four times in the fourth and fifth sets combined.
Match Summary: First Round Breakdown
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Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
Mariano Navone 7 5 4 6 6
Novak Djokovic 6 7 6 2 1
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Duration: 4 Hours 12 Minutes | Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium
Key Factors Behind the Upset
- Physical Breakdown: Djokovic’s second-serve win percentage dropped below 38% in the final two sets as physical ailments mounted.
- Navone’s Relentless Depth: The Argentine hit 42 winners and kept Djokovic pinned behind the baseline with heavy topspin forehands.
- Break Point Efficiency: Navone converted 7 of his 11 break point opportunities, capitalizing on crucial unforced errors.
| Statistic | Novak Djokovic | Mariano Navone |
| First Serve % | 58% | 67% |
| Aces / Double Faults | 9 / 8 | 4 / 2 |
| Unforced Errors | 54 | 28 |
| Break Points Saved | 4/11 | 8/12 |
| Total Points Won | 142 | 161 |
Daniil Medvedev Restores Momentum with Clean Victory
While shockwaves echoed through Arthur Ashe Stadium following Djokovic’s departure, 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev delivered a focused performance to secure his spot in the second round.
Medvedev defeated French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes. The Russian baseline specialist controlled the tempo from the start, winning 81% of his first-serve points and converting five break points.
“The last couple of weeks were not easy,” Medvedev reflected, referring to early exits in Cincinnati and Montreal. “I’m happy that today I managed to produce high-level tennis. I felt like I did everything I wanted to do well.”
Medvedev’s clean victory provides stability to the upper half of the men’s draw, where he stands as one of the primary favorites alongside defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Jessica Pegula Leads American Surge at Flushing Meadows
On the women’s side, world No. 3 Jessica Pegula opened her campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Returning to the site of her 2024 final appearance, Pegula displayed tactical discipline, overcoming early service nerves to baseline control throughout the 74-minute encounter.
Pegula set up a second-round match against fellow American Sofia Kenin, who defeated wild card entry Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(8) in a night session match that concluded past 2:00 AM local time.
Notable Women’s Draw Results
- Jessica Pegula (USA) def. Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) 6-3, 6-2
- Sofia Kenin (USA) def. Venus Williams (USA) 6-2, 7-6(8)
- Kamilla Rakhimova def. Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) [18] 7-6(4), 6-2
- Jasmine Paolini (ITA) def. Veronika Erjavec (SLO) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
- Elina Svitolina (UKR) def. Solana Sierra (ARG) 6-1, 6-2
Additional Men’s Draw Action & Major Withdrawals
Day 1 of the tournament featured several grueling multi-set marathons across the outer courts:
- Jaume Munar (ESP) outlasted Terence Atmane (FRA) 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), 7-5 in a match lasting nearly five hours.
- Dino Prizmic (CRO) saved two match points to defeat Aleksandr Shevchenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
- Jiri Lehecka (CZE) powered past former semifinalist Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2.
Prior to the completion of opening-day play, former champion Marin Cilic and 2022 finalist Casper Ruud officially withdrew from the tournament due to persistent physical injuries, further altering the tournament landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the biggest US Open tennis results on Day 1?
The biggest result on Day 1 was world No. 49 Mariano Navone defeating four-time champion Novak Djokovic in five sets. Other key results include Daniil Medvedev defeating Hugo Gaston in straight sets and Jessica Pegula overcoming Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Why did Novak Djokovic lose his US Open first-round match?
Novak Djokovic suffered from physical health issues, including back and shoulder strain alongside illness during his five-set loss to Mariano Navone. The physical decay limited his movement and serve velocity in the final sets.
How did Daniil Medvedev perform in his opening match?
Daniil Medvedev won his first-round match comfortably against Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Medvedev won 81% of his first-serve points and broke Gaston five times, rebounding from early warm-up tournament losses in Montreal and Cincinnati.
Who will Jessica Pegula play in the second round of the US Open?
Jessica Pegula will play fellow American Sofia Kenin in the second round. Kenin advanced after defeating 2000 and 2001 champion Venus Williams in a late-night straight-sets encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
What seed was eliminated on the women’s side on Day 1?
Former Grand Slam champion and 18th seed Barbora Krejcikova was the highest-ranked casualty on the women’s side, falling to Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6(4), 6-2 after failing to convert six match points in the opening set.
Conclusion
Day 1 of the tournament produced dramatic updates to the overall US Open tennis results landscape. Novak Djokovic’s early departure opens up the bottom half of the men’s draw, creating renewed opportunities for contenders like Daniil Medvedev. Meanwhile, strong opening wins from Jessica Pegula and Sofia Kenin keep home hopes high in the women’s bracket. Follow continuous daily roundups for updated draw analysis, live scores, and expert player tracking throughout the fortnight at Flushing Meadows.
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