What's next for Novak Djokovic after US Open 2024 exit? All you need to know about Serb's schedule
Novak Djokovic made history at the US Open last year after winning his 24th Grand Slam title, a victory that enabled him to equal Margaret Court's record of the most number of Grand Slams won across men's and women's singles tennis. Additionally, after winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Djokovic also completed the Career Golden Slam.
Soon after his monumental victory at the Olympics, Djokovic reached New York to compete in the final Grand Slam of the season. However, his run in the tournament was rather short-lived as the Serb lost his third-round match against Alexei Popyrin 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6.
The World No. 28 took the lead with the first two sets while Djokovic fought back and clinched the third. However, despite the audience and the Serb anticipating a comeback, Popyrin was able to get the better of his opponent.
This was the third time this year that Djokovic and Popyrin faced each other at a Major. While Djokovic succeeded in getting the better of the latter at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, after winning one set against the Serb in London, Popyrin was confident about being able to take charge and believed that he could get the better of Djokovic. He said (via Express UK):
"I genuinely believe I could have won that match, if I had won that third set (at Wimbledon). I feel like I was in the driver’s seat and I felt super comfortable out there."
He added, "[Djokovic] is a super-solid player, but I do feel he gives you chances every now and then in the points."
Popyrin capitalised on this mindset and succeeded in securing a berth for himself in the fourth round of the US Open, thus creating more space in the World No. 2's schedule to take part in other tournaments.
Djokovic's schedule after the US Open exit
Novak Djokovic's early exit from the US Open not only marks his departure from this year's Grand Slam season without a victory but also the end of the era of the Big Three. This is largely because this is the first time since 2002 that neither Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer have won a Grand Slam.
With the Swiss having bid goodbye to the sport two years back and speculations around this being Nadal's last year on tour, most of the hopes in this regard were pinned on Djokovic. However, despite the lack of any Grand Slam titles this year, the Serb still has a few more opportunities to add some titles to his kitty before the end of the year.
Djokovic is likely to play the Masters 1000 events in Shanghai and Paris. In addition, the 24-time Grand Slam champion will also be representing his country as part of Serbia's team in the Davis Cup this year.
As announced by captain Viktor Troicki, Djokovic will be joining teammates Miomir Kecmanovic, Dusan Lajovic and Hamad Medjedovic in their match against Greece later this month. This will be followed by his participation in the Rolex Shanghai Masters at the end of the month and the Rolex Paris Masters thereafter.
Djokovic at the 2024 Davis Cup
After his early exit from the US Open, Djokovic acknowledged that he “played some of the worst tennis." However, this exit made space in his schedule to play for his country, something that he had previously claimed to be one of his priorities.
Team Serbia will be playing against Greece on 14th and 15th September in Belgrade and the winner will be competing in the matches leading to the finals. The loser, on the other hand, will drop to World Group 1.
This participation was made more likely after Djokovic's US Open exit, something that worked to the advantage of the team that he once led to victory at the 2010 Davis Cup. Additionally, even last year, the team made it to the Group Stage and earned a spot for themselves in the finals but lost to Italy in the semis with Djokovic losing three match points to the current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The Greek team who are Serbia's opponents, also features ATP World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas who too had an early exit from the US Open after he lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round. Therefore, intense action can be anticipated at the Davis Cup with Djokovic aiming to end the season with a few more victories despite the lack of a Slam.