Argentine tennis star Mariano Navone showed immense respect for Novak Djokovic even after handing the tennis legend a shock first-round exit at the US Open.

The 25-year-old, ranked world No. 49, edged past the Serbian in a grueling five-set thriller on Sunday in New York, winning 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a marathon encounter that stretched four hours and 36 minutes.

Despite claiming one of the biggest wins of his career against a 24-time Grand Slam winner, Navone didn’t shy away from acknowledging Djokovic’s greatness during his press conference afterward.

He noted that he could tell his opponent was carrying a slight injury by the fifth set, and had also appeared fatigued during parts of the fourth, but insisted this didn’t diminish who Djokovic is as a competitor.

The Argentine emphasized that regardless of physical setbacks, Djokovic’s mental resilience remained on full display throughout the contest, describing him as someone who consistently finds a way to solve problems on court against any opponent he faces.

Navone’s comments reflect the widespread admiration many players on tour continue to hold for Djokovic, even as the 39-year-old shows signs of physical decline that have made him more vulnerable in high-stakes matches.

The victory marks a career-defining moment for Navone, who now advances further into the tournament having overcome one of the sport’s most decorated champions in a battle that tested both players’ endurance and mental fortitude across nearly five hours of intense competition on one of tennis’s biggest stages.