Defending champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the third round of the 2024 US Open by 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin, losing 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. This marks Djokovic's earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2017 Australian Open and his earliest US Open departure since 2006. The defeat follows Carlos Alcaraz's shock exit, leaving the tournament without two of its top seeds. Popyrin, who had never previously beaten a top-five player in a major, capitalized on Djokovic's uncharacteristic double faults and physical sluggishness. This loss means the Big Three—Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—will not feature in the Round of 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2004 French Open. Despite his defeat, Djokovic recently secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.