Novak Djokovic's dominance in tennis has been shaken after the 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered a shocking defeat in the third round of the US Open to 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia.
Novak Djokovic's reign atop men's tennis has come to an abrupt end as the Serbian tennis star bowed out of the US Open in the third round, marking a stunning upset in the world of tennis.
Djokovic, who recently claimed the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, fell to Alexei Popyrin of Australia in four sets, ending his hopes of defending his US Open title. The defeat marked the first time since 2002 that none of the "Big Three" – Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer – had won a Grand Slam in a calendar year.
Djokovic's Reign Ends as Popyrin Stuns in US Open Third Round
Following the match, a visibly disappointed Djokovic made no excuses, acknowledging that his performance throughout the tournament had been subpar. "Honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament – the third round is a success. I've played some of the worst tennis I've ever played, honestly, serving by far the worst ever," he said, adding that Friday's match had been "awful."
"If you play on a quick surface like this without the serve, without the ability to win free points there … then you can't win."
Djokovic's Reign Ends as Popyrin Stuns in US Open Third Round
Djokovic was questioned whether his participation in the Olympics had affected his performance in New York, but he declined to speculate. Instead, he admitted that he had simply been "out of gas."
"I did arrive in New York just not feeling fresh, mentally and physically. But because it's the U.S. Open, I gave it a shot and tried my best. I didn't have any physical issues, I just felt out of gas."
Djokovic's Reign Ends as Popyrin Stuns in US Open Third Round
The loss not only ended Djokovic's chances of winning back-to-back US Open titles but also marked a significant shift in the landscape of men's tennis. It was the first time in 20 years that a member of the "Big Three" had not won a Grand Slam in a calendar year.
Jannik Sinner of Italy won the Australian Open, while Spain's Carlos Alcaraz triumphed at the French Open, defeating Djokovic in the finals at Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal, who has battled injuries throughout his career, has yet to win a Grand Slam in 2024, while Roger Federer has since retired.
The future for Djokovic, who has dominated the sport for over a decade, is now uncertain. "It's hard to see the big perspective right now. You're just angry and upset that you lost and the way you played, and that's it," Djokovic said. "But tomorrow is a new day," he continued, "and I will obviously think about what to do next."
As the dust settles on the US Open, the tennis world now looks to a new era, with younger players like Popyrin, Sinner, and Alcaraz emerging as potential contenders for Grand Slam glory. The reign of the "Big Three" may have come to an end, but the future of tennis promises to be just as exciting and unpredictable.
