In a shocking upset, Novak Djokovic suffered a third-round defeat at the U.S. Open, marking the first season since 2017 that he did not win a major championship. The loss to Alexei Popyrin ended Djokovic’s Grand Slam season and raised questions about his future in the sport at the age of 37. This year also saw the first season since 2002 without a Slam title for any member of the Big Three of men’s tennis – Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. With Federer retired and Nadal facing injury woes, Djokovic’s position in the game is uncertain.
Despite a challenging season, Djokovic managed to secure a historic Olympic gold medal for Serbia in Paris. However, the physical and mental strain of the Summer Games may have contributed to his lackluster performance at the U.S. Open, where he described his play as some of the worst he has ever displayed. The unusual surface-switching from clay to grass to hard courts also added to the difficulties faced by Djokovic and other players who competed at the Olympics.
With Djokovic’s early exit from the U.S. Open, the tournament saw unexpected outcomes, with only one previous men’s champion remaining in the bracket. The absence of top players like Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal has created an open field for emerging talents like Popyrin and Botic van de Zandschulp to make their mark. As the landscape of men’s tennis continues to evolve, the era of the Big Three dominance may be coming to an end, paving the way for a new generation of champions.
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