8,736 Days Later, It’s Finally Over: Djokovic’s Fall Ends Big 3’s Historic ATP Top-10 Reign

Newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev strengthened his position at No. 2 in the latest ATP Rankings, released Monday after the conclusion of the 2026 Grand Slam season, while also significantly closing the gap on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Zverev is now 1,810 points behind Sinner and has nearly twice as many ranking points as third-placed Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic Falls To No. 12

The biggest shock in the latest rankings was the dramatic fall of Novak Djokovic, who slipped to No. 12 after suffering a first-round defeat at the US Open.

The 39-year-old Serb was stunned by Argentina’s Mariano Navone 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a gruelling four-hour, 36-minute contest two weeks ago.

It was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since his first-round defeat at the 2006 Australian Open and saw him fall out of the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2018.

Djokovic first entered the top 10 in 2007. He later dropped out in November 2017 after an elbow injury forced him to retire during his Wimbledon quarterfinal. He returned to the elite group a year later after winning Wimbledon.

Big Three Era Finally Ends In ATP Top 10

Djokovic’s exit from the top 10 also brings an end to one of the longest streaks in tennis history.

For the first time since October 2002, none of the three members of the sport’s legendary Big Three — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic — feature in the ATP top 10.

The trio dominated men’s tennis for more than two decades, winning 66 Grand Slam titles between them — Djokovic 24, Nadal 22 and Federer 20. At least one of the three remained inside the top 10 throughout that period.

The remarkable run lasted 8,736 consecutive days, or nearly 24 years.

Federer, Nadal Retired; Djokovic Still Going

Federer was the first of the trio to retire, ending his professional career in 2022 after his final appearance at the Laver Cup.

Nadal continued for another two years before making his final appearance at the 2024 Davis Cup.

Djokovic, however, remains an active player. Despite mounting physical challenges in recent months, the 39-year-old has indicated that he intends to continue playing until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.