Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Novak Djokovic has been hit with another major blow after his stunning first-round defeat to Mariano Navone at the US Open, with the Serbian set to fall out of the ATP top 10 for the first time in eight years.
The 39-year-old suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in more than 20 years, losing 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to the unseeded Argentine in a four-hour, 36-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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The defeat will also bring an extraordinary era to an end. Djokovic has remained inside the ATP top 10 since 2018, but his latest loss means he is set to drop outside the elite group in the rankings to be published on September 14.
That will leave the men’s top 10 without any member of the legendary Big Three — Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal — for the first time in nearly 24 years. The last ATP top 10 without any of the trio was published on October 7, 2002, before Djokovic had even established himself on the professional circuit.
For Djokovic, the numbers underline just how significant this moment is. His longevity at the top has been one of the defining achievements of his career, making the impending exit another sign of how dramatically the landscape of men’s tennis has changed.
DJOKOVIC FOUGHT, BUT HIS BODY GAVE UP
Djokovic’s defeat was not simply a case of Navone overpowering him from start to finish.
The Serbian initially fought back brilliantly after losing the opening set, winning the third to take a 2-1 lead. But his physical condition deteriorated badly as the contest progressed. He vomited during the match, struggled with cramping and pain, and received treatment for back and shoulder problems.
Djokovic was even a break ahead in the fourth set, but could not sustain his level. Navone seized control, winning the final two sets 6-2, 6-1 to complete the biggest victory of his career.
The loss also ended Djokovic’s pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title and marked his first opening-round defeat at a major since the 2006 Australian Open.
For Navone, it was a career-defining night. For Djokovic, it was another painful reminder that experience and reputation can no longer guarantee survival at the biggest tournaments.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
