Djokovic bids farewell to the US Open: "I didn't enjoy a single moment, I even thought about retiring"

Fernando Murciego - 31 Aug 2026 | 06:39
ATP US Open 2026 Novak Djokovic Rueda de prensa

Hurt and filled with doubts, that’s how Novak Djokovic left the 2026 US Open after once again falling in the first round of a Grand Slam twenty years later. Are we close to the end?

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Djokovic, after the hardest blow: "I didn't enjoy a single moment." Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic appeared in the press room of the US Open without any prior notice. He didn’t even allow time for it to be announced in the tournament schedule. After suffering one of his most unexpected defeats, the Serbian once again faced the harsh reality of a physique that is not allowing him to reach his 25th Grand Slam.

That 25th Grand Slam feels very far away after what we saw tonight. I would say it is at a height that we could even call impossible, though with legends, it’s best not to doubt. At 39 years old, Novak Djokovic has not stopped trying in every tournament he has played, but the results are starting to tell a very different story than usual. These were his words in New York after the tremendous earthquake.

Novak Djokovic analyzes his defeat to Mariano Navone

“I think it was evident that it was a horrible feeling for me on the court. It’s something that, unfortunately, I have been dragging through practically every match this year. Vomiting, being sick, there is a serious problem there. Then my whole body basically starts to collapse, with cramps and pain. My back finally said enough, and so did my shoulder, and I couldn’t close out the match. I was a break up in the fourth, but I had problems since the fourth game of the match. I don’t want to take too much credit away from his victory. I congratulate him. He’s a good guy, a fighter, but I didn’t enjoy it.”

What solution is there for all this?

“I don’t know. I’m trying, man. I’m trying. We’ll see. I’m not delving too deep right now. I’m just trying to really address what’s going on and how far I can go this way.”

Djokovic confesses he thought about quitting

“Yes, I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought about it, but then I won a set and then a third. Then I thought: ‘Okay, maybe there’s a chance.’ I didn’t want to quit in the fourth or fifth, so I wanted to finish the match.”

Third time losing in the first round of a Grand Slam

“Yes, it’s another nice record. But I’m not really thinking about it. Of course, I have been very proud of all my past achievements, but now is now. Right now, I just came off the court and I’m still trying to control my body.”

Djokovic values the farewell from Arthur Ashe

“They were amazing. I’m very grateful to have experienced this. As for the match and the overall feeling of how I was physically and playing, it really wasn’t pleasant. I practically despised every moment I spent on the court because of that. But from the audience’s perspective and their support, it was incredible, honestly, from the very beginning. They were trying to lift me in crucial moments and I really feel bad for not performing as well as I should, could, or wanted to for them. But the love and affection they showed me at the end truly touched my heart.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic se despide del US Open: “No disfruté ni un momento, incluso pensé en retirarme”