With Novak Djokovic’s early elimination last Friday, the US Open title holder has systematically fallen from his throne for 16 years since Roger Federer’s victory in 2008. The Swiss is even the only player to have managed to keep his title in New York since the beginning of the century.
Roger Federer is the only player to have retained his US Open title since the start of the 21st century.
KEYSTONE
The curse of the US Open has struck again! Eliminated by Alexei Popyrin (6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4) on the night of Friday to Saturday, Novak Djokovic lost his crown in the 3rd round. The Serb thus continues the bad streak of the defending champions at Flushing Meadows.
Indeed, since 2008, no winner of the New York fortnight has managed to retain his trophy the following year! The last one to have achieved this feat? Roger Federer, who had won five titles in a row between 2004 and 2008 before losing in the final against Juan Martín del Potro in 2009.
The Basel player is even the only player – to date – to have achieved such a performance in Queens during the 21st century. Before him, we have to go back to 1997-1998 and the “double” of the Australian Patrick Rafter to see a tennis player repeat the feat.
The US Open, the exception of the Grand Slams
This dearth of champions seems indeed unique to the US Open, as noted by “Eurosport“For the other three Grand Slam tournaments, supremacies were frequent during this same period, that is to say between 2009 and 2024.
Rafael Nadal has reigned almost unchallenged at Roland Garros and has retained his title seven times. At the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic has done so five times and Roger Federer once. And finally, Wimbledon has seen the Serbian retain his title on four occasions, but also Carlos Alcaraz this year.
Whoever raises their arms on Sunday in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium will already have a nice challenge waiting for them in 2025 on American soil…
The winner’s journey the year following his title
- 2009: Roger Federer, beaten in the final
- 2010: Juan Martin Del Potro, absent
- 2011: Rafael Nadal, beaten in the final
- 2012: Novak Djokovic, beaten in the final
- 2013: Andy Murray, eliminated in the quarter-finals
- 2014 : Rafael Nadal, absent
- 2015: Marin Cilic, eliminated in the semi-finals
- 2016: Novak Djokovic, beaten in the final
- 2017 : Stan Wawrinka, absent
- 2018 : Rafael Nadal, eliminated in the semi-finals
- 2019: Novak Djokovic, eliminated in the round of 16
- 2020 : Rafael Nadal, absent
- 2021 : Dominic Thiem, absent
- 2022: Daniil Medvedev, eliminated in the round of 16
- 2023 : Carlos Alcaraz, eliminated in semi-finals
- 2024: Novak Djokovic, eliminated in the 3rd round
