The 2024 US Open has witnessed two major upsets within 24 hours, sending shockwaves through the tennis world. On Thursday night, world no. 74 Botic van de Zandschulp stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, while on Friday, Alexei Popyrin, seeded 28th, defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set battle.
Alcaraz, who had won the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, was considered one of the favorites for the title. However, van de Zandschulp’s aggressive play disrupted Alcaraz’s rhythm, forcing him to abandon his usual baseline strategy.
Popyrin, who had previously pushed Djokovic to four sets in the Australian Open and Wimbledon, finally got the better of the Serbian legend in the third round. Popyrin’s 50 winners and Djokovic’s poor serving proved to be the difference in the match.
Djokovic’s loss marks the first time since 2004 that none of the “Big Three” (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer) will be in the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam. It is also the first calendar year since 2002 that none of them have won a major.
Alcaraz’s exit is his third second-round defeat in his career, while Djokovic’s loss is his earliest at a major since 2017. The absence of both players in the Round of 16 makes the US Open the first Slam in over 22 years without the No. 2 or 3 seed in the men’s draw.
The upsets have opened up the tournament, with several players now in contention for the title. The remaining favorites include Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Casper Ruud.
