NEW YORK -- An ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his first opening-round defeat in a Grand Slam event for more than 20 years as he was beaten 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Argentina's Mariano Navone on Sunday.
Djokovic vomited courtside several times and looked in severe pain at times in the last set and a half as the 25-year-old Navone clinched the biggest victory of his career.
The 39-year-old Djokovic battled to the end, but had nothing left as the Argentinian inflicted his first defeat in round one at a major since the 2006 Australian Open. Navone won 11 of the last 12 games to triumph after four hours, 35 minutes.
"When it comes to match itself and overall feeling of how I felt with body and playing, it was really not enjoyable," Djokovic said after the match. "I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that."
Here's what happened -- and what it might mean.
Before Sunday night, Novak Djokovic had a 19-0 record in opening matches at the US Open. Getty Images Djokovic was struggling from the start The 24-time Grand Slam champion came into the US Open short on match practice, having played just once since his semifinal run at Wimbledon, losing his opener in Cincinnati. After that match, he revealed he had been struggling with a health condition that often flared up in humid conditions.