Novak Djokovic is no longer among the world’s top 10 men’s tennis players after the latest ATP rankings were released following the US Open, marking a historic moment in the sport. The 39 year old Serbian dropped to No. 12 after his first round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone at the final Grand Slam tournament of the season. Djokovic had entered the US Open ranked fifth in the world, but his early elimination cost him valuable ranking points and resulted in a seven place drop. It is the first time since 2018 that Djokovic has fallen outside the ATP top 10, ending one of the longest periods of dominance in the history of men’s tennis.
Djokovic’s fall also brings an extraordinary era to an end. For nearly 24 years, at least one member of the sport’s legendary Big Three, Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, had occupied a place inside the ATP top 10. That remarkable streak began in October 2002 and continued through generations of players and countless changes at the top of men’s tennis. Federer retired in 2022, while Nadal ended his professional career in 2024, leaving Djokovic as the final active representative of the group. His departure from the top 10 therefore carries significance beyond a single ranking position, symbolizing the end of an era that shaped modern tennis for more than two decades.
The latest ranking also reflects the changing balance of power in men’s tennis. Jannik Sinner remains world No. 1, while Alexander Zverev moved into second place after winning the US Open, securing his second Grand Slam title of the year. Carlos Alcaraz is third, followed by Ben Shelton, who reached a career best No. 4 after his run to the US Open final. Felix Auger Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Frances Tiafoe, Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz complete the current top 10. Tiafoe’s return to the elite group is particularly notable, as he climbed four positions after his performance in New York.
Despite the ranking setback, Djokovic’s place in tennis history remains extraordinary. He holds the record for the most weeks spent at world No. 1, with 428, and has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the joint highest total in men’s tennis history. His latest decline comes after a difficult Grand Slam campaign in New York, where he lost to Navone in five sets after four hours and 36 minutes. The result was also Djokovic’s earliest exit from the US Open in his career and his first first round defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open. While his ranking is now outside the top 10, the Serbian remains one of the defining athletes of his generation, and his future schedule and performances will determine whether he can once again return to the highest positions in the sport.
