US Open: Mariano Navone wins battle as Novak Djokovic’s body says no

Novak Djokovic, right, hugs Mariano Navone after Navone won their match. (AP photo) NEW YORK CITY: The champion’s challenge faded on the night as his body fell on Arthur Ashe as the junior pro kept his head and combined his game brilliantly to find a way. The opening Sunday of the US Open saw heroics on both sides of the net.For Mariano Navone, the 25-year-old ranked 49th in the world, it was more than staring down a legend who was 37-0 in the first and second rounds of the US Open. The compactly built Argentinian produced an enthralling level of tennis underpinned by steely determination.For 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, it was a stubborn refusal to give up amid extraordinary scenes on court. After four hours and 40 minutes of physical torment, the 39-year-old, who was so unwell that he vomited more than once and required medical attention, even led by two sets to one. Buoyed by a crowd that cheered his spirit, Djokovic kept going even though his body seemed to have nothing more to give.Clay-court Navone adapted well on Sunday, especially on the backhand side, to claim his first five-set victory in five matches 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.Chasing a 25th major title, Djokovic said he felt terrible on court and because of that “pretty much despised every moment he spent on court”.“It’s something I’ve carried into almost every match this year. Vomiting, that’s a serious problem. Then my whole body starts breaking down, basically cramping and aching. My back just gave up, it ended up being my shoulder and I couldn’t close it,” Djokovic said. “I broke in the fourth, but from the fourth game of the match I was struggling.He added: “I don’t want to take too much away from his victory. Congratulations to him. He’s a fighter.”Djokovic did not elaborate on his health problem, but said he was trying to find a solution.The Serbian superstar said that giving up crossed his mind. “But then I won the set and then the third. Then I was like, okay, maybe there’s a chance,” he said. “I didn’t want to give up in the fourth or fifth, I wanted to finish the match.The truth is that Djokovic no longer has an easy ticket.Not because of the quality of his opponents, but because of the expectations he brings to the court every time. Against Alcaraz or Sinner, age offers an explanation when he loses. It doesn’t count against the likes of Navone. At 39, Djokovic is expected to win and win comfortably. But time doesn’t stop bidding, and other lottery players know it.Navone, just 12-29 in tournament-level matches on hard courts, had to raise his level mentally and physically in the first round. Even though Djokovic’s condition was spotty, Navone still had to cross the line against a player of his stature, and that’s never easy.“I’ve never played on Arthur Ashe, I’ve never played against Novak before. It’s the first time I’ve won a five-set match. We’ll remember this moment for a long time,” Navone said. “The best part for me was the mental part. I was two sets to one and then he broke in the fourth, but I can feel it in that moment. My game has been better since then.”Even as Djokovic threw up behind a towel box, Navone kept his head down and went about his business.“I understood that he was not feeling very well,” he said. “It’s hard to play against him like that because you have a chance to win against him. I had to focus on the moment, on my game and on the important things on my side. That’s the best I’ve done.”