Fallen Stars At US Open 2024

The US Open 2024 will be remembered for throwing up a series of major upsets in recent tennis history. Some of the big guns who were top contenders for lifting the title were shown the exit doors in the most unlikely ways. 

Here are some of the major upsets at US Open 2024:

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff’s US Open title defence came to an end after she was beaten by Emma Navarro in the fourth round in the US Open 2024. World number 3 Gauff produced a disappointing performance to lose 6-3 4-6 6-3 to fellow American and 13th seed Emma Navarro.

Gauff hit 19 double faults, including 11 in the third set alone, and produced three in the final game to hand the match to Navarro. This comes after Gauff was comprehensively beaten by Navarro just two months ago in the last 16 at Wimbledon.

The defeat quashed Gauff’s bid to become the first woman to defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.

Novak Djokovic

World no. 2 Novak Djokovic crashed out in the third round of the US Open 2024. The Serb lost to 28th ranked Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a shocking defeat, ending his hopes of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title.

It is for the first time in 18 years that Djokovic exited the US Open in the third round. It was also his earliest defeat at a major since a second-round exit at the 2017 Australian Open. 

37-year-old Djokovic hit an unlikely 14 double faults and committed 49 unforced errors and admitted “it was the worst tennis I ever played”. 

For the first time since 2017, Djokovic ended the tennis season without a Grand Slam title. 

Carlos Alcaraz 

Third seeded Carlos Alcaraz was stunned by No. 74 Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round US Open 2024. 

Alcaraz went down 1-6, 5-7, 4-6, ending his quest to become the only third player in men’s singles in the Open Era to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same tennis year.

The 21-year-old made 27 errors, won only 60% of his first serve points and just 35% of the points on return  against his 28-year-old opponent. 

The four-time Grand Slam winner had reached at least the quarter-finals in his three previous appearances in the US Open. This was his earliest defeat at a Grand Slam since a second round exit at the 2021 Wimbledon.

Also Read: Longest Match in US Open History: 3 Tie-Breakers In 5 Setter

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu was sent packing in the opening round  of US Open 2024 by Sofia Kenin in a battle of former Grand Slam champions.

World number 56 Kenin ripped through the opening set by winning six straight games before Raducanu showed some  fight in the second set.

Raducanu played just one tournament since Wimbledon and even skipped the Olympics to focus on her preparation for the US Open.  The Brit would be gravely disappointed to fall at the first hurdle as questions galore regarding her future career.