The US Open delivered absolute carnage on Sunday as Novak Djokovic crashed out in a five set first round epic, headlining a day of shocks, marathons and heavyweight casualties at Flushing Meadows.

Argentina’s Mariano Navone produced the performance of his life to stun the fourth seed 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a match that swung dramatically across four hours before Navone claimed the biggest scalp of his career.

The result removes one of the tournament favourites and opens up an entire section for players who suddenly find themselves with a golden opportunity to reach the latter stages.

The Djokovic disaster

Djokovic looked in control after claiming the third set to lead 2-1, seemingly grinding his way towards another routine Grand Slam victory built on championship experience and relentless consistency.

Instead, the wheels came off spectacularly. Navone claimed the fourth set 6-2 before absolutely demolishing the Serbian legend 6-1 in the decider.

For a player of Djokovic’s stature and mental fortitude to capitulate so dramatically in a deciding set raises serious questions about his current form and fitness. First-round Grand Slam exits simply don’t happen to champions of his calibre unless something is fundamentally wrong.

Navone, meanwhile, can barely believe what he’s achieved. Beating the world’s fourth-ranked player in a Grand Slam first round represents a career-defining moment and announces his arrival on the sport’s biggest stages.

More men’s mayhem

Djokovic wasn’t the only seed to suffer Sunday heartbreak. Britain’s Cameron Norrie, seeded 29th, crashed out to France’s Luca Van Assche 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in another upset that blows the draw wide open.

Van Assche recovered from losing a tight first set tiebreak to dominate the final three sets, his powerful baseline game overwhelming Norrie once momentum shifted.

Elsewhere, Croatia’s Dino Prizmic emerged victorious from an absolute marathon against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko, prevailing 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in a five-set epic that swung back and forth before Prizmic finally closed it out.

Spain’s Jaume Munar also needed the full distance to overcome France’s Terence Atmane 6-7 (5/7), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 in another match that showcased the brutal attritional nature of best-of-five-set tennis.

South African success

Lloyd Harris delivered excellent news for South African tennis fans, comfortably dispatching American Jack Kennedy 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the second round.

The straight-sets victory showcased Harris at his powerful best, his big serve and aggressive groundstrokes proving too much for the home favourite. Harris will now face a second-round challenge with confidence high after such a dominant opening performance.

Seeds survive

Not all seeds suffered Sunday disasters. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, seeded seventh, cruised past France’s Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in a performance that suggested the former champion is finding form at exactly the right time.

American Tommy Paul, the 20th seed, also advanced despite dropping the opening set in a tiebreak against Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong, recovering to win 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

Argentina’s Tomás Etcheverry (27th seed) demolished Czech Republic’s Vít Kopriva 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, whilst Czech Jirí Lehecka (18th seed) defeated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2.

Women’s action delivers drama

The women’s draw produced its own share of upsets and compelling storylines, headlined by Venus Williams’s emotional exit to Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in a match that finished after 2am local time.

Also read: Venus Williams bows out after gutsy midnight battle

Williams, 46 years old and competing on a wildcard, fought gallantly in the second-set tiebreak, leading 6-2 before Kenin rattled off six consecutive points to clinch victory and end the veteran’s singles campaign.

Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova, seeded 27th, crashed out to Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in another significant upset that removes a dangerous floater from the draw.

Seeds march on

America’s Jessica Pegula, the third seed and one of the tournament favourites, eased past Romania’s Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2 to advance without serious alarm.

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk (11th seed) defeated Australia’s Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-1, whilst compatriot Elina Svitolina (ninth seed) was equally comfortable against Argentina’s Solana Sierra, winning 6-1, 6-2.

Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova (18th seed) dispatched American McCartney Kessler 6-2, 6-2, and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (19th seed) survived a three-set battle against Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, seeded 31st, cruised past China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-2 to continue her solid recent form.

The US Open roars on, but several big names are already heading home with their luggage packed and their championship dreams shattered before the tournament truly ignited.