Serbia has suffered a disappointing start to the 2026 US Open, with Miomir Kecmanovic and Novak Djokovic both eliminated in the opening round in New York. Kecmanovic was beaten by Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6:4, 4:6, 6:4, 6:1 after more than two hours on court, while Djokovic also failed to advance. The results have created an unusually difficult situation for Serbian men’s tennis at the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
Kecmanovic appeared to have a chance to turn the match around after recovering from losing the first set and leveling the contest at one set apiece. He then moved ahead 4:2 in the third set, putting himself in a strong position to take control. Instead, Shapovalov produced a decisive comeback, winning four consecutive games to take the set 6:4. The fourth set was even more one sided, with the Canadian taking control and Kecmanovic winning only one of the final 11 games of the match. The defeat continues a difficult season for Kecmanovic at the Grand Slams. He lost in the opening round at the Australian Open, reached the second round at Roland Garros and was eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon, although he pushed Jannik Sinner hard in London. Overall, he has recorded 15 ATP level victories and 22 defeats this season, while exiting at the first hurdle at 11 tournaments. His early US Open elimination therefore adds to a difficult year for the Serbian player.
The situation is particularly painful for Serbia because the country had hoped for a strong performance from its leading players in New York. With Kecmanovic and Djokovic both out, the Serbian men’s singles campaign has suffered a major blow at the very beginning of the tournament. The results underline the changing landscape of Serbian tennis, where Djokovic remains the biggest name but the next generation is facing increasing pressure to produce consistent results on the biggest stages.
