Tennis is experiencing the final moments of the once powerful ‘Big 3’

New York. After his early farewell to the US Open, Novak Djokovic unusually ends the season without lifting a title Grand Slamin a sign that the glorious era of Big 3 tennis could be coming to an end.

For the first time since 2002, none of the year’s four major trophies have gone to the Serbian or to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the three giants who have dominated tennis this century.

Federer, who inaugurated this era by conquering Wimbledon in 2003, was also the first to hang up his racket, in 2022, with 20 Grand Slam crowns in his display case and the indelible memory of the beauty of his tennis.

The Swiss left at the age of 41 after several seasons trying to recover from a knee injury.

The shadow of retirement has also been looming over Rafael Nadal for several seasons, and he has acknowledged that his retirement is also imminent.

For now, the Spaniard, who has won 22 major titles, is resisting the fact that the injuries he has been battling for years will force him to stop.

At 38, Nadal has played in six tournaments in 2024, in addition to the Paris Olympics, but his play and results do not invite belief in another of his legendary resurrections.

Djokovic, 37, is the only giant left standing. The Serbian remains the favourite wherever he competes, but this year he has had to settle for one long-awaited success: his first Olympic gold at the Paris Games.

On the big stages, with the requirement of winning in five sets, the Serbian was unable to extend his lead over Federer and Nadal and reach his desired 25th Grand Slam title, which would set an absolute tennis record, breaking the current tie with Margaret Court.

With no energy left in his tank after winning Roland Garros (semi-finals), Wimbledon (final) and gold in Paris-2024, Djokovic collapsed on Friday night in New York against Australian Alexei Popyrin and closed his first season without Grand Slams since 2017.

Fall in the ranking

You also have to go back to 2017 to find an earlier exit from Djokovic in a major tournament.

In the second round that year, the man who rebelled against the Federer and Nadal dictatorship and ended up monopolizing almost all of the tennis records failed: 24 Grand Slam event trophies, 40 Masters 1000 trophies, 7 ATP Finals, 428 weeks as world number one and eight seasons completed as head of the circuit.

Just 24 hours after another shocking elimination, that of Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic briefly sat in the same chair to criticise himself for his short-lived time at Flushing Meadows.

“The way I’ve felt and played since the beginning of the tournament, the third round is a success. I’ve played some of my worst matches,” Djokovic told reporters, attributing part of the wear and tear to the Olympic efforts.

“It obviously had an effect. I spent a lot of energy winning the gold and I arrived in New York not feeling fresh mentally and physically,” said ‘Nole’, who denied having had any physical problems this week.

“Because it’s the US Open, I tried and gave it my best,” said the Balkan native, who was hoping to become the first champion to retain his title since Federer won five titles between 2004 and 2008.

Before getting up from his chair, Djokovic admitted that he was “upset and angry” about a fiasco that left a “bitter taste” in his mouth, but clarified that in perspective he should be satisfied with what he has achieved.

“Tomorrow is a new day, and I’m obviously going to think about what I’m going to do next,” he added.

In the immediate future, Djokovic will drop from his current number two in the world to at least fourth, moving away from the Italian Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the young stars who will bear the weight of replacing the legendary player. Big 3.