NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) – The U.S. Open, full of surprises and hungry, young challengers, was the latest sign that a new era has dawned in men’s tennis: 2024 will be the first time in more than two decades that none of the “Big Three” have won a Grand Slam title.
Roger Federer had withdrawn and Rafael Nadal was struggling to return to the court due to injuries. Novak Djokovic was the last man of this golden generation left in Flushing Meadows, but the Serb was eliminated in the third round by Australian Alexei Popyrin.
While Djokovic continues to wait for his record 25th Grand Slam, Jannik Sinner secured his second major title of the year with his victory over Taylor Fritz in the final on Sunday.
The Italian also won the Australian Open, and while 21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, the old guard was excluded from the Grand Slam tournaments for the first time since 2002.
“I think it’s good for the sport to have some new champions.”
Sinner and Alcaraz are the only two men born after 2000 to have reached a major final.
There were early indications that things would not be as usual for the favorites in Flushing Meadows.
Four-time US Open winner Djokovic, strained by his victorious Olympic campaign in Paris, lost to Alexei Popyrin in four sets.
“I put a lot of energy into winning the gold medal and when I arrived in New York I just didn’t feel fresh mentally and physically,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic.
“But because it’s the US Open, I tried and did my best.”
Alcaraz, who lost to Djokovic in the grueling Olympic final, also suffered an early exit when he was surprisingly beaten by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.
Olympic women’s tennis champion Zheng Qinwen, who was eliminated in the quarterfinals, said the quick turnaround did not help her.
“Since the Olympics, I’ve always been in a rush,” said China’s Zheng. “I only had three days to prepare for the US Open. I can’t quite follow my normal fitness program.”
World number one Iga Swiatek was also one of the top candidates to be eliminated too early: the five-time Grand Slam winner and 2022 champion was eliminated in the quarterfinals, while defending champion Coco Gauff was eliminated in the fourth round.
Given the difficult conditions, the players struggled with their fitness and so it was hardly surprising that Aryna Sabalenka won the women’s event.
The Belarusian defended her title at the Australian Open, but took a season-long break to address health and fitness issues after suffering a back injury in Rome. She also missed Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury.
The world number two finished second last year and was eliminated in the semifinals twice before that, but this time there should be no heartbreaking defeat in New York.
“I have suffered many tough defeats in the past,” she said. “I always hoped that one day I would be able to hold this beautiful trophy in my hands. It has always been my dream.”
(This story has been resubmitted to add players’ first names in paragraphs 2 and 9)
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(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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