Former British No.1 Refuses to Write Off Novak Djokovic in Majors Despite US Open Upset

Novak Djokovic‘s campaign at the US Open ended after a first-round upset to Mariano Navone. Djokovic, on Sunday (August 30), suffered a five-set defeat in what was also the third time he lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Before this event, the only time he crashed out in the first round of a Major was at the 2005 Australian Open and the 2006 Australian Open. Throughout the match, Djokovic struggled. He vomited into the dustbin multiple times and was also reduced to tears in the decider.

At this stage of his career, his body is not supporting Nole the way it used to. This is the second time in Majors this season Djokovic has lost in the early rounds, following his third-round exit at the French Open.

At the Australian Open, he eliminated two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, before he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz. Then at Wimbledon, Sinner, also the eventual champion, easily defeated a tired Djokovic in the semifinals.

The Serb had won a marathon match that lasted more than five hours against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals before facing the five-time Grand Slam champion.

Thanks to his campaigns in Melbourne and London, Greg Rusedski refused to write him off. Rusedski still believes Djokovic has it in him to go for his 25th Grand Slam title.

Well, we’ve only seen the deterioration really this US Open and in Cincinnati. Wimbledon, we didn’t see anything. He still made the semis. In the heat in Australia, he made the finals. So you’re talking about this deterioration. It’s all relative, isn’t it?

Greg Rusedski said on his Off Court with Greg podcast

Djokovic lost in the opening round of a tournament for the second consecutive time, following the Cincinnati Masters, where Thiago Agustin Tirante beat him in three sets. There too, Djokovic suffered from physical setbacks.

It’s only been the last few weeks since Wimbledon. Most people’s careers would have been set up for life. Finals of Australia, semis of Wimbledon. That’s a pretty good season for most human beings. So let’s not write him off quite yet.

Greg Rusedski added

Novak Djokovic looks very emotional down 1-3 in the 5th set against Navone at the US Open.

Definitely in pain physically, but these also look like emotional tears.

4+ hours at 39 years old.

The New York crowd is trying to give him a push for another heroic comeback.

🥹 pic.twitter.com/QsZqF0Z04o

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 31, 2026

Andy Roddick’s message to critics telling Novak Djokovic to retire

Andy Roddick sent a strong message to everyone who thinks Novak Djokovic should hang up his racket after his US Open defeat. On his Served podcast, the 2003 US Open champion, however, also talked about uncertainty regarding the 39-year-old’s career.

The story is gonna be: what now for Novak? And I don’t think we know. I think every time he walks off the court at a Grand Slam right now, it’s okay to wonder if it’ll be the last time. And I think there’s a difference between wondering if it’ll be his last time and being a () on Twitter saying, ‘He should retire.’ Shut up. He can make that decision.

This is the third time this season Djokovic has lost in the opening round of a tournament after the Cincinnati Masters and the Italian Open. Last year, after his US Open semifinal defeat to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz, the 24-time Grand Slam champion competed in just two events: the Shanghai Masters and the Hellenic Championship.

In Athens, Djokovic won his second title of the season. He has yet to win another title since that win.

In the ongoing event, last year’s runner-up Sinner is not playing as he is nursing a knee injury. Alcaraz will play Roman Safiullin in the first round, which will also be the first time he will play a match since the first round of the Barcelona Open, where he injured his wrist.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Opens Up About His New Documentary and Hints at Future Projects