Novak Djokovic drops out of ATP top 10 after first-round loss at 2026 US Open
Novak Djokovic lost in the first round of the 2026 US Open on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, and the defeat removed him from the ATP top 10 for the first time since July 2018. The 39-year-old went down in a five-set match that lasted four hours and 36 minutes.
Djokovic, who has spent much of the last decade near the top of men’s tennis, suffered his first opening-round Grand Slam loss in 20 years. Since his early-career defeat at the 2006 Australian Open to Paul Goldstein, he has amassed 24 major titles and been a fixture at the sport’s summit until Sunday’s result.
Navone prevailed in a long contest with a final score reported as 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Djokovic appeared to struggle physically during the match, reportedly vomiting multiple times and receiving medical treatment for his back and foot, and the coverage noted he ultimately ran out of energy. A tweet accompanying images from the stadium read "A well-deserved ovation 👏See you again soon, @DjokerNole. pic.twitter.com/1jRBbC77Ee."
The ranking fallout was immediate: Djokovic entered the tournament as world No. 5 and the fourth seed while defending 800 points from his semi-final run in New York last year. His first-round exit cost him 790 of those points, dropping him to No. 11 in the live rankings — the lowest placement he has occupied in eight years.
There are further risks to his standing during the remainder of the tournament. Players named in coverage as being within striking distance — Rafael Jodar, Frances Tiafoe and Learner Tien — could push Djokovic lower depending on how deep they progress in New York, and observers noted a real chance his position could worsen before the event concludes.
What comes next for Djokovic, including whether he even qualifies for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2017, is genuinely uncertain. How other contenders fare in the remaining rounds in New York will determine whether his slide in the live rankings continues.