Politics · India Bureau
Tennis era ends as Djokovic drops out of ATP top 10
Novak Djokovic's fall to world No. 12 marks the first time since 2002 that none of the Big Three—Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal—hold a place in tennis's top 10 rankings. The milestone signals the definitive end of an era that dominated men's professional tennis for more than two decades.
LSN India ·
The landscape of men's professional tennis underwent a historic shift this week when Novak Djokovic slipped to 12th in the ATP rankings, ending a 22-year reign in which at least one member of the sport's dominant Big Three maintained a top-10 position. The last time no player from the trio appeared in the top 10 was October 2002, when Lleyton Hewitt held the world No. 1 ranking. Federer and Nadal have since retired, with Nadal stepping away in 2024 at age 38, while Federer exited professional tennis in 2022 at 41. Djokovic, now 39, remains the sole surviving member of the triumvirate that reshaped modern tennis. His latest setback came following a first-round exit at the U.S. Open against Argentina's Mariano Navone, continuing a difficult stretch for the veteran champion. The departure of the Big Three from the top 10 represents a generational turning point in the sport, opening the rankings to a new wave of competitors who have grown up watching Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic's unprecedented dominance. The transition underscores the natural evolution of professional tennis, as younger players establish their own legacies in a post-Big Three era.