Novak Djokovic's US Open loss ends Big Three's Grand Slam streak of 22 years

Novak Djokovic went down to Alexei Popyrin in four sets.

For the first time in over 20 years, tennis fans are seeing a big change. In 2024, none of the “Big Three” tennis stars – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer – won a Grand Slam title. This hasn’t happened since 2002, marking the end of an amazing run in tennis history.

The streak’s end was punctuated by Novak Djokovic’s surprising third-round exit at US Open 2024. The defending champion fell to 28th-seeded Australian Alexei Popyrin in four sets (4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6), marking his earliest departure from Flushing Meadows in 16 years.

With Novak Djokovic’s loss at the US Open, 2024 is the first year since 2002 that one of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, or Novak Djokovic didn’t win a Grand Slam title. 22 years. Times are changing. pic.twitter.com/S2puk2yA91

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 31, 2024

For nearly two decades, Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer have dominated the sport with unparalleled consistency. Their collective achievements are staggering: a combined 66 Grand Slam singles titles (Djokovic 24, Nadal 22, Federer 20) and 63 major victories in the last 74 tournaments since 2003, winning about 85% of all the big tournaments!

The end of this era of dominance comes down to several key factors. Federer’s retirement in 2022 due to ongoing knee problems took away one of the sport’s legends.

Nadal’s struggles with injuries have greatly reduced his playing time in recent years. Djokovic, still strong at 37, has started showing signs of being challenged by the sport’s up-and-coming players.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic creates unique record at US Open 2024

Now, a new generation is taking over tennis’s biggest stages. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, with his 2022 US Open and 2024 French Open titles, and Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who won the 2024 Australian Open and became world No. #1, are leading this youth movement.

But the Big Three’s influence goes far beyond their many trophies. They’ve been global ambassadors for tennis, raising the sport’s profile and inspiring countless young players. Their rivalries have given us some of the most unforgettable matches in tennis history, pushing each other to reach new heights of excellence.

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