Djokovic's US Open loss makes 2024 the first year since 2002 without a Slam title for the Big Three

NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic tried to put on a happy face, if only briefly, after his startling third-round defeat at the U.S. Open. He raised his arms, put two thumbs up and grinned a bit before making his way toward the Arthur Ashe Stadium locker room.

That 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Alexei Popyrin, which ended shortly before midnight as Friday became Saturday, closed the Grand Slam season for Djokovic, marking the first year since 2017 that he didn't win at least one major championship.

For a guy with 24 such titles, more than any other man in tennis history, maybe that's not such a big deal.

Then again, for someone who makes plain that his ambitions lie with accumulating as many of those trophies as possible — and for someone who is 37, don't forget — maybe it is.

“It's hard to see the big perspective right now. You’re just angry and upset that you lost and the way you played, and that’s it,” said Djokovic, who was the defending champion, never has exited the U.S. Open earlier than the third round and last went out this early in 2006.

“But tomorrow is a new day,” he continued, "and I will obviously think about what to do next.”

Looking at the larger picture, there is this statistic of significance: 2024 will go in the books as the first season since 2002 without a Slam title for any member of the so-called Big Three of men's tennis — Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Federer, who is now retired, won his first major at Wimbledon in 2003, beginning a remarkable run of magnificence for the trio. Their combined total is 66 Slams.

No man had collected more than Pete Sampras' 14 at the sport's four most important events until Federer ended up with 20. Nadal then raised the bar to 22. And then Djokovic surpassed him.

“They brought it to a whole different level,” Casper Ruud said when Federer retired in 2022, “and showed that anything is possible.”

But with Federer, 43, out of the game, and Nadal, 38, on uncertain ground given a recent series of injuries, including hip surgery a little more than a year ago, now the real question becomes where things stand for Djokovic.

He lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open, withdrew before the quarterfinals of the French Open because he needed an operation on his right knee and was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon. What mattered most this year to Djokovic, though, was winning his first Olympic gold medal for Serbia — and he did just that, defeating Alcaraz in the final in Paris.

Djokovic said there might be some truth to the idea that the physical and mental strain of the Summer Games contributed to his showing in New York, which he called "some of the worst tennis I have ever played," pointing in part to 32 double-faults in three matches, 14 against Popyrin.

“I just felt out of gas,” Djokovic said.

The unusual surface-switching this season, from the French Open’s clay to Wimbledon’s grass to the Summer Games’ clay to the U.S. Open’s hard courts, doesn’t make things any easier. Maybe that's affecting other players who were at the Olympics, too, notably Alcaraz.

It’s the first time since 2000 — and only the second time in the Open era, which dates to 1968 — that two of the top three men’s seeds were gone during Week 1 in New York. Entering Saturday, just one previous men’s champion remained in the bracket, 2021 winner Daniil Medvedev.

A night before Djokovic's exit, 2022 champ Alcaraz's 15-match Grand Slam winning streak ended when he was eliminated from the U.S. Open in straight sets by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp.

“Results like that happen,” Popyrin said. “I thought to myself: Why not me today?”

Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes his face against Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, reacts Novak Djokovic, of Serbia,during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, shakes hands with Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, reacts against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, tries to stay cool during a third round match against Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, reacts against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts against Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes his face against =Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts against Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during a third round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes his face during a third round match against Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — United Nations talks on getting money to curb and adapt to climate change resumed Monday with tempered hope that negotiators and ministers can work through disagreements and hammer out a deal after slow progress last week.

That hope comes from the arrival of the climate and environment ministers from around the world this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the COP29 talks. They’ll give their teams instructions on ways forward.

"We are in a difficult place,” said Melanie Robinson, economics and finance program director of global climate at the World Resources Institute. “The discussion has not yet moved to the political level — when it does I think ministers will do what they can to make a deal.”

Talks in Baku are focused on getting more climate cash for developing countries to transition away from fossil fuels, adapt to climate change and pay for damages caused by extreme weather. But countries are far apart on how much money that will require. Several experts put the sum needed at around $1 trillion.

“One trillion is going to look like a bargain five, 10 years from now,” said Rachel Cleetus from the Union of Concerned Scientists, citing a multitude of costly recent extreme weather events from flooding in Spain to hurricanes Helene and Milton in the United States. “We’re going to wonder why we didn’t take that and run with it.”

Also on Monday, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has been mulling a proposal to cut public spending for foreign fossil fuel projects. The OECD — made up of 38 member countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and Germany — are discussing a deal that could prevent up to $40 billion worth of carbon-polluting projects.

At COP29, activists are protesting the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and Turkey who they say are the key holdouts preventing the agreement in Paris from being finalized.

“It’s of critical importance that President Biden comes out in support. We know it’s really important that he lands a deal that Trump cannot undo. This can be really important for Biden’s legacy," said Lauri van der Burg, Global Public Finance Lead at Oil Change international. “If he comes around, this will help mount pressure on other laggards including Korea, Turkey and Japan.”

Meanwhile, the world’s biggest decision makers are halfway around the world as another major summit convenes. Brazil is hosting the Group of 20 summit, which runs Nov. 18-19, bringing together many of the world's largest economies. Climate change — among other major topics like rising global tensions and poverty — will be on the agenda.

Harjeet Singh, global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said G20 nations “cannot turn their backs on the reality of their historical emissions and the responsibility that comes with it.”

"They must commit to trillions in public finance," he said.

In a written statement on Friday, United Nations Climate Change's executive secretary Simon Stiell said “the global climate crisis should be order of business Number One” at the G20 meetings.

Stiell noted that progress on stopping more warming should happen both in and out of climate talks, calling the G20's role “mission-critical.”

Associated Press journalist Ahmed Hatem in Baku contributed to this report.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Attendees arrive at the venue as it rains during the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Activists participate in a demonstration for climate finance at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Arnold Jason Del Rosario leads a demonstration on climate finance at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

People arrive as it rains at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)