Since 2003, one among Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, has gained not less than one main every year.
With Djokovic crashing out of the 2024 US Open on Friday, that splendid 21-year streak has ended. The Serb suffered a third-round loss to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, ending his major-less 2024 that noticed him lose within the semifinal on the Australian Open, quarterfinal on the French Open (harm) and finals at Wimbledon.
The 21-year streak started on the 2003 Wimbledon, when Federer, then 21, beat Mark Philippoussis for the primary of eight titles on the hallowed grass courts. After that, the streak continued with the Huge 3 dominating the slams yearly, successful 65 majors out of 83 (excluding the canceled 2020 Wimbledon). The streak ended with Djokovic’s 2023 US Open title, his twenty fourth main title.
This is a breakdown of the 4 majors between 2003 to 2024:
- Australian Open: 18/22 (Huge 3 did not win in 2003, 2005, 2014 and 2024)
- French Open: 18/22 (Huge 3 did not win in 2003, 2004, 2015 and 2024)
- Wimbledon: 17/21 (Huge 3 did not win in 2013, 2016, 2023 and 2024)
- US Open: 13/22 (Huge 3 did not win in 2003, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
By the way, the US Open was the one main by which the Huge 3 loved a lower than 80 % win charge since 2003. As such, it was becoming that the streak ended on the venue the place they hadn’t dominated as a lot.
The yr 2002 marked the final time not one of the Huge 3 gained a serious when Thomas Johansson (Australian), Albert Costa (French), Lleyton Hewitt (Wimbledon) and Pete Sampras (US) triumphed on the slams.
The streak was earlier at risk when Djokovic underwent surgery after withdrawing from his quarterfinal tie at Roland Garros. Nevertheless, the Serb miraculously returned a number of weeks later and superior to the Wimbledon finals earlier than shedding to Carlos Alcaraz. He would observe that achievement by successful his first-ever gold medal on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
As such, there was a degree of expectation from Djokovic getting into the 2024 US Open.
Alas, all good issues come to an finish.
