Three seeded players eliminated on the first day of the 2026 US Open

The US Open 2026 has already found its first victims among the seeds. The first day of the last Grand Slam of the season left only three eliminations of favored players: Novak Djokovic, Barbora Krejcikova, and Cameron Norrie. This is a particularly low number considering the huge amount of matches scheduled, although there is an important nuance: the rain prevented many of the matches planned for the outdoor courts from being completed.

The big shock came in the men's draw. Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, was eliminated by Mariano Navone after a marathon match decided by 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, and 6-1. The Argentinian took advantage of the Serbian's physical deterioration, who suffered from vomiting, cramps, and issues with his back and shoulder. For Djokovic, this marks his first loss in a first round of a Grand Slam since 2006 and his earliest exit at the US Open.

The second major surprise was caused by Barbora Krejcikova, the 27th seed. The Czech lost to Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova, becoming the first women's seed to leave the tournament. In the men's draw, Cameron Norrie, the 29th seed, also said goodbye. The Brit could not overcome Frenchman Luca Van Assche, who secured one of the most important victories of his career by winning 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-3.

Thus, the count stands at three seeds eliminated on the first day. This figure could have been higher had it not been for the weather. The rain forced numerous matches on the outdoor courts to be halted, and several matches were postponed to the second day. While the indoor courts managed to keep up the pace, the rest of the complex suffered a significant competitive backlog.

Therefore, Monday will see a second part of this first day. And with it, also a new opportunity for more surprises to emerge.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tres cabezas de serie eliminados en el primer día del US Open 2026