Novak Djokovic, former world no. 1, has opened up about his mysterious health issue after an upset defeat against Argentina's Mariano Navone which ended his journey in the US Open tournament on Sunday. The 39-year-old 24-time Grand Slam champion was visibly unwell as he threw up at least once on the court, suffered cramps and had frequent visits from his trainers. Following the defeat, Djokovic opened up about the serious health issue that made him collapse during the Cincinnati Open earlier this month and had him struggling through the 4-hour, 36-minute marathon match on August 30, 2026.

He said, "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: 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." Djokovic said the overall feeling about the match and how his body felt while playing was not enjoyable at all, adding, "I pretty much despised every moment I spent on the court for that."

Djokovic has outlasted all the greats of his era, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, and even at his age, the athlete remains a major challenge for younger stars such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. His resilience has kept him at the top of the sport despite mounting physical challenges that accumulate over a long and grueling career spanning decades.

It remains to be seen if the medical issue would force the player to retire or if he would continue pushing through the pain. Medical experts note that the physical demands on elite tennis players are immense, especially at the highest competitive levels. The average age of retirement for professional tennis players is typically between 27 and 32, making Djokovic's continued participation at age 39 an extraordinary anomaly in modern sports history.