India, Sept. 1 -- 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.

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 ...