Novak Djokovic has dropped out of the ATP top 10 for the first time since 2007 after his shock first‑round loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open 2026.
The Serb fell from No. 5 to No. 12 in the latest rankings, marking the first time since October 2002 that none of the Big Three — Federer, Nadal, Djokovic — are in the top 10.
Djokovic, 39, was chasing a record 25th Grand Slam but struggled physically, vomiting and cramping during the match. “It was an awful feeling on the court for me… my whole body starts to collapse,” he admitted after the defeat.
The historic drop underscores the end of an era. Federer retired in 2022 after 237 weeks as World No.1, Nadal stepped away in 2024 after a record 912 consecutive weeks in the top 10, and Djokovic — who held the No.1 spot for 428 weeks — now finds himself outside the elite bracket.
Despite his French Open triumph earlier this year, Djokovic’s US Open exit was his first opening‑round loss at the tournament and his first at any major since the 2006 Australian Open.
American hopes of ending a men’s Grand Slam drought since 2003 were dashed as Shelton fell short, while Djokovic’s setback highlighted the generational shift in men’s tennis.
