Four‑Hour‑Thirty‑Six‑Minute Duel Becomes Longest Opening Match in Major History

The opening round of the 2026 US Open produced the longest first‑round contest ever recorded in a major tournament. Novak Djokovic and Mario Navarro battled for 276 minutes, with Navarro eventually prevailing 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Navarro seized the momentum in the fourth set, winning six consecutive games, and completed the comeback in the fifth. Djokovic experienced nausea and had difficulty moving around the court, a sign of the physical strain that surfaced again after his recent Cincinnati loss.

The match highlighted Navarro’s resilience; he described the win as “unbelievable” and expressed gratitude for the chance to compete against a legend. Djokovic, while disappointed, maintained his composure, shaking hands with his opponent and engaging with supporters before leaving the arena.