Top 3 biggest men’s tennis upsets of 2024
While Novak Djokovic suffered a slump in his form, Carlos Alcaraz didn't enjoy much success since his Paris Olympics defeat.
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Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic (Images via X)
Men’s tennis has seen some of the biggest upsets this season with Novak Djokovic making the headlines most. He had a bad season as he went trophyless in Grand Slam events for the first time since 2017.
When Djokovic was suffering, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were winning. Alcaraz had successful campaigns during the summer (won the French Open and Wimbledon) but had a slight slump in his form after he reached the final of his debut Olympic Games in Paris.
Even at the ATP Finals, though it was due to an illness, Alcaraz once again faltered as he is yet to make it to the final of the Year-End event. But without further ado, check below the top three upsets in men’s tennis in 2024.
1) Novak Djokovic’s defeat in the Australian Open to Jannik Sinner
Novak Djokovic had scripted a lot of records in 2023, for he won three majors and the ATP Finals. He entered the 2024 Australian Open as the heavy favorite and advanced to the semifinals and it thought Djokovic would have another great season.
But Jannik Sinner, then a fourth seed, made the biggest upset as he outclassed the Serb in four sets. Djokovic lost a pair of sets but wasn’t on the brink of elimination as he somehow won the third set.
But he faltered in the fourth as Sinner clinched the victory with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3. Sinner then went on to the final to lift his first Grand Slam title with a five-set win over Daniil Medvedev.
2) Carlos Alcaraz suffered second-round defeat at the US Open
Carlos Alcaraz probably was dealing with mental and physical fatigue as he wasn’t playing to his full potential at the US Open. Just before the US Open, he played in the final of the Paris Olympics and was considered the favorite given that Djokovic was losing in the tournaments he was playing.
The fact that Djokovic was outclassed by the 21-year-old for the second time at Wimbledon was another reason many thought the 24-time Grand Slam champion would lose.
But Djokovic, who probably was playing his final Olympics, wasn’t ready to lose that opportunity and won that match in straight sets which included a pair of tie-breaks.
The pressure of representing Spain at the quadrennial event plus the defeat broke Alcaraz’s heart and it affected his performance at Flushing Meadows. At the US Open then, Alcaraz, who won the title in 2022 (his first major), was beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
3) Novak Djokovic failed to reach US quarterfinals for the first time in 18 years
Novak Djokovic had won his first title of the season at the Paris Olympics so many from the tennis community thought that he would lift his 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open.
But soon after Alcaraz, Djokovic followed suit. He reached the third round and lost the first two sets he played against Alex de Minaur. Even though he restricted the Aussie to two games in the third set, that didn’t help as the 37-year-old got knocked out with scores of 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
After a poor season, Djokovic made a big change in his team as he hired Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open. Will the World No. 7 finally get back to winning ways and lift his historic 25th major in Melbourne?
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Gouri Das
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