A shock US Open exit in the first round in the late hours of Sunday left many wondering whether the time had finally arrived for the last member of the Big Three to say goodbye to tennis. Roger Federer exited in 2022. Rafael Nadal followed in 2024. Novak Djokovic, in that period, won three more Grand Slams to take his career tally to 24, an unprecedented feat in the Open Era.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Mariano Navone of Argentina during their Men's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2026 US Open (Getty Images via AFP)
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But the last of those Slam titles came at the US Open in September 2023. The rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in men's tennis saw Djokovic gradually fade from the conversation as a favourite at the majors. He kept pushing, making the semi-finals at all four Grand Slams in 2025 before reaching the Australian Open final in 2026. But physical struggles held him back at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and those problems resurfaced painfully during his US Open first-round match last Sunday.
The Serb was seen vomiting multiple times on court and struggled to move because of shoulder and back pain, while his serve dropped into the mid-90s.
Djokovic, who has won four of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the US Open, suffered his first-ever opening-round exit in New York and his first at a Grand Slam in 20 years. It was a defeat that left many questioning what the future holds for the 39-year-old.
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Djokovic, who has won four of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the US Open, suffered his first-ever opening-round exit in New York and his first at a Grand Slam in 20 years. It was a defeat that left many questioning what the future holds for the 39-year-old.
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But Djokovic isn't giving up yet.
While experts have been discussing what's next for Djokovic after the US Open shock, the Serb has already plotted his next move. At the end of this month, Djokovic will travel to China for the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, where Sinner is also set to return after missing the US Open because of injury.
Djokovic is among the names on the entry list for the Beijing Open, where he has won six titles — in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He will return to the tournament for the first time since 2015, when he defeated Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-2 in the final, and boasts a stunning 29-0 record in Beijing.
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The tournament will also feature several other top players, including Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Bublik and Jakub Mensik.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Home/Sports/Tennis/Novak Djokovic refuses to let US Open shock decide his future, already plotting his next move
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