ATP Tour

Djokovic: 'It was an awful feeling on the court'

After suffering a stunning first-round defeat to Mariano Navone at the US Open Sunday evening, Novak Djokovic did not mince words about what his experience was like on court.

“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It's something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” Djokovic said. “Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.

“Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn't close it out.”

Despite his physical struggles, Djokovic led by two sets to one and a break in the fourth set against the Argentine. But the Serbian was not able to find a final surge to navigate across the finish line.

“I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way since the fourth game of the match,” Djokovic said. “Again, I don't want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He's a nice guy, a fighter. But I didn't enjoy myself.”

It was so tough for Djokovic physically — he vomited multiple times — that he admitted to considering retiring from the match.

“I have, I have. I have, but then I won a set and then [the] third one,” Djokovic said. “Then I was, like, ‘Okay, maybe there is a chance’. Yeah, I didn't want to give up in fourth or fifth, so I wanted to kind of finish the match.”

This was such a shock because Djokovic had not lost a first-round match at a major since the 2006 Australian Open. His only other opening-round loss at a Grand Slam tournament came at the 2005 Australian Open.

“It’s a good record, another one. But, yeah, I'm not really thinking about it,” Djokovic said. “Of course, I've been very proud of all the achievements in the past, but now is now. Now [it] is fresh off the court and [I am] still trying to manage my body.”

While trailing 1-3 in the deciding set, the New York crowd attempted to rally Djokovic. The 39-year-old was clearly touched, tearing up in the moment.

“They were super nice. So grateful to experience this. When it comes to [the] match itself and overall feeling of how I felt with body and playing, it was really not enjoyable. I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that,” Djokovic said. “But from the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible, honestly from the beginning. They were trying to lift me up in important moments, and I'm very sorry that I didn't perform as well as I should have or could have or wanted for them.

“But the love and appreciation they gave me in the end was really touched my heart.”