NEW YORK -- Defending champion Novak Djokovic was shocked at the U.S. Open one night after Carlos Alcaraz was, bowing out in the third round with a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia on Friday night.
The No. 2-seeded Djokovic was trying to become the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam singles titles. Instead, he finishes a year without claiming at least one major championship for the first time since 2017. Before that, it hadn't happened since 2010.
Also of note: 2024 now becomes the first season since 2002 in which none of the Big Three of men's tennis -- Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer -- earned a Slam trophy.