Who Is Mariano Navone? 25-Year-Old Argentine Crushes Novak Djokovic’s 25th Slam Dream

Last Updated:August 31, 2026, 09:58 IST

Mariano Navone makes history, beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the US Open first round.

Mariano Navone celebrates after he defeated Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the first round of the U.S. Open (Picture credit: AP)

Star Argentine tennis player Mariano Navone on Monday became only the third player in the history of the sport to eliminate 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the first round of a Major, as he beat the latter 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to move into the second round of the US Open.

The 49th-ranked Navone survived the four-hour and 36-minute battle better than the 39-year-old Djokovic, who was reduced to tears as he battled a physical issue which restricted his movement on court.

Notably, Navone came into the US Open on the back of a Round of 32 exit at Winston-Salem, where he lost in straight sets to James Duckworth.

Born in February 2001 in Nueve de Julio, Buenos Aires, Mariano is the son of Luis Navone and Analía Vizzón. Of Italian descent, he has two sisters, Lucía and Pilar. He started playing tennis at the age of three and later trained at the Club Atlético Nueve de Julio Tennis School.

Navone entered the 2024 French Open as the 31st seed, becoming the first player in Grand Slam history to make his debut in a major main draw as a seeded player.

At the 2024 US Open, Navone beat Daniel Altmaier in four sets in the first round before his campaign ended in the second round with a straight-set defeat to Dan Evans.

At the 2025 French Open, Navone defeated Reilly Opelka in straight sets in the second round before falling to Lorenzo Musetti in four sets in the third round.

At the 2025 Wimbledon, Navone pulled off a first-round upset against 27th seed Denis Shapovalov, beating him in four sets before bowing out in the second round after a straight-set defeat to Pedro Martinez.

A Glorious 2026

Earlier this month at the National Bank Open, Navone beat Matteo Berrettini in straight sets in the first round before pulling off a three-set upset against 14th seed Valentin Vacherot in the second round.

Navone’s run at the National Bank Open ended in the third round with a straight-set loss to 18th seed Arthur Fils. Earlier in July, he reached the third round of the Generali Open, defeating Alexandre Muller in straight sets before stunning sixth seed Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets in the second round.

Navone was then eliminated by Quentin Halys in straight sets.

At the French Open, Navone beat Jenson Brooksby in straight sets in the first round before bowing out with a five-set defeat to 26th seed Jakub Mensik in the second round.

Earlier in May, he enjoyed a brilliant run at the Geneva Open, beating compatriot Marco Trungelliti in three sets before overcoming Cameron Norrie, Jaume Munar and Casper Ruud.

His campaign ended in the final, where he lost to fourth seed Learner Tien in three sets.

At the Italian Open, Navone defeated Shapovalov in straight sets in the first round, stunned Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets in the second before losing to Hamad Medjedovic in three sets in the third round.

Read More