Djokovic’s Fall to No. 12 Marks End of Big Three Top-10 Era

Novak Djokovic’s latest ranking drop has brought an end to one of the most remarkable eras in men’s tennis, with no member of the sport’s Big Three Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal now featuring in the ATP top 10 for the first time since October 2002.

The 39-year-old Djokovic fell from No. 5 to No. 12 in the rankings released Monday, following his first-round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone at the US Open. It was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2006 Australian Open and his first-ever opening-round loss at Flushing Meadows.

Federer and Nadal retired in 2022 and 2024, respectively, leaving Djokovic as the last active member of the trio. Together, the three legends won 66 Grand Slam singles titles, with Djokovic leading the haul with 24, followed by Nadal with 22 and Federer with 20.

Federer first entered the top 10 later in October 2002 and spent a record 237 weeks at No. 1. Nadal entered the top 10 in April 2005 and remained there for a record 912 consecutive weeks. Djokovic joined the top 10 in 2007 and went on to spend a record 428 weeks at No. 1.

The changing of the guard is also evident at the top of the current rankings. Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz remain first, second and third, while US Open finalist Ben Shelton climbed five places to No. 4.

Sinner and Alcaraz had dominated the Grand Slam finals last year, meeting in three of four. Injuries changed that pattern in 2026, with Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon because of a wrist injury and Sinner withdrawing from the US Open with a knee problem.

Zverev emerged as the most consistent player, winning the French Open and US Open, reaching the Wimbledon final and the Australian Open semifinals.

The generational shift is striking: Lleyton Hewitt was No. 1 when the Big Three era began, while his 17-year-old son Cruz Hewitt is now rising through the professional ranks.