Novak Djokovic quedó eliminado del Abierto de EE. UU. en la primera ronda tras caer en un maratón de cinco sets ante Mariano Navone el domingo por la noche en Nueva York. La derrota, que se extendió por cuatro horas y 36 minutos, marca su primera caída en la primera ronda del Abierto de EE. UU., constituyendo su salida más prematura en un major en dos décadas, dating to the 2006 Australian Open.
Una derrota en la primera ronda del Abierto de EE. UU. ante Mariano Navone
El serbio Novak Djokovic sufrió una de las derrotas más tempranas de su carrera en torneos de Grand Slam al caer por 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 frente a Mariano Navone en la ronda inicial del Abierto de EE. UU. El partido, disputado en el Arthur Ashe Stadium el domingo por la noche, se prolongó durante cuatro horas y 36 minutos, convirtiéndose en el encuentro de primera ronda más largo en la carrera de Djokovic. El partido terminó mere minutes before midnight.
Para Djokovic, de 39 años, este revés representa su primera caída en la primera ronda del Abierto de EE. UU., constituyendo su salida más prematura en un major en dos décadas, dating to the 2006 Australian Open.
Dolencias físicas y problemas estomacales durante el partido
Durante el desarrollo del encuentro, el tenista evidenció visibles muestras de malestar físico y problemas internos, grinded through physical and internal ailments, made one mistake after another and could not find what it took to beat a feisty, younger opponent who was not intimidated under the lights against tennis’ most decorated player. He moped around the court for most of the 4 hours, 36 minutes he spent at Arthur Ashe Stadium, applied ice bags to his head every few minutes as he grimaced in agony.
The record holder with 24 major titles threw up at least once and later appeared to be cramping when he grabbed at his left foot. Djokovic swallowed pills brought to him by a doctor and had his lower back massaged during a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, and he grimaced after several shots. Djokovic made 70 unforced errors in a painful performance.
Al término del partido, el tenista reconoció el calvario que vivió sobre la pista central:
Novak Djokovic declaró que no lo pasó bien y que pensaba que era evidente que tenía una sensación terrible en la pista. Novak Djokovic
En declaraciones posteriores, el ganador de 24 major titles explicó que arrastra problemas de salud recurrentes: Novak Djokovic señaló que es algo que, desafortunadamente, ha venido arrastrando prácticamente en todos los partidos de este año, con vómitos y un problema grave allí. Añadió que luego todo su cuerpo comienza a colapsar, básicamente con calambres y dolor, y que sí, que al final la espalda y el hombro simplemente cedieron y no pudo cerrar el partido.
El desarrollo del encuentro en el Arthur Ashe Stadium
Djokovic made a promising start as he broke Navone’s serve at the first attempt, only to see a 4-1 advantage wiped out as he began to struggle in the humid conditions. The catalyst for Djokovic’s troubles appeared to be a lengthy rally which sapped him of energy and left him struggling to recover. A flustered Djokovic seemed to drop speed in both his serve and groundstrokes, calling out the doctor after the ninth game for some tablets.
He continued to look distressed as the opener moved into the tie-break — wearily bowing his head and bending over double between points — as Navone maintained his focus to strike first after one hour and 13 minutes. As Djokovic toiled, an eerie hush fell around Arthur Ashe Stadium which indicated the crowd’s growing concern for the four-time champion.
The physical problems did continue to linger, but Djokovic perked up enough — seemingly helped by the cooler conditions under the roof — to level the match. Djokovic becoming more animated in the early part of third set was a surefire sign he was starting to feel more like his old self, as was how he pounced on a poor service game from Navone to break for 5-4 and move ahead. However, the fact he was unable to do that against Navone, who has never gone past the second round in New York, was another indication of his declining powers, and what had been a tight match quickly ran away from him as Navone secured the 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
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