The 2024 US Open was one of the most unpredictable and thrilling Grand Slam events in recent memory. As the year's final major, it brought together the sport’s elite on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, New York, where legends sought to further cement their legacies and emerging talents aimed to make their mark. The tournament delivered excitement and emotion at every turn, from early round upsets to the crowning of two first-time US Open champions. Below, we explore the key moments that defined the 2024 US Open.
Anyone’s to Win
The 2024 US Open set up as a showdown between established legends and rising stars. Novak Djokovic, fresh off his Olympic gold medal in Paris, aimed to tie the Open Era record with his fifth US Open title. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion—and the Olympic silver medalist in Paris—entered the tournament determined to add a second US Open title to his growing collection of major tournament wins.
In the women's draw, defending champion Coco Gauff sought to repeat the magic run that saw her breakthrough for her first major win, while Iga Świątek, the world No. 1 and 2022 US Open champion, was considered a strong favorite. But with so many talented contenders, it felt like this year’s tournament was indeed anyone’s to win.
First Week Upsets Reframe the Tournament
The 2024 US Open's first four rounds shocked fans with major upsets that altered the tournament's landscape. Perhaps the most significant was Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit. Despite his stellar form throughout the year, Alcaraz was defeated in straight sets in the second round. His unexpected loss created a ripple effect, leaving a sizable gap in the men’s draw.
On the women's side, Świątek, the current three-time defending French Open champion, was another high-profile exit. Her quarterfinal defeat came at the hands of sixth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who would ride the momentum of the upset win into her first-ever major final.
The most prominent upset happened in round three, where defending champion and newly minted Olympic gold medalist Novak Djokovic lost in four sets. Djokovic put in a surprisingly pedestrian effort, while his opponent, world no. 28 Alexi Popyrin, took full advantage of Djokovic’s uncharacteristic play. It was Djokovic’s earliest departure at the US Open since 2006 and the first time in seven years that he had not taken home a major title.
In addition to these shocking exits, the first week also saw rising stars and veterans make headlines. Americans like Frances Tiafoe and Emma Navarro captured the attention of home fans with deep runs into the second week, while former champions struggled to find their rhythm. Notable among the latter was Naomi Osaka, who, after missing 2023 for the birth of her first child, made a welcomed return to Flushing Meadows with a first-round upset before bowing out one round later.
Joining Hardcourt Royalty
Despite the upsets, the 2024 US Open ultimately proved a showcase for the hardcourt talents of its two singles champions. Aryna Sabalenka, known for her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive style, played her way into the final, dropping only a single set along the way. Dispatching two Americans—Emma Navarro in the semis and Jessica Pegula in the final—Sabalenka, who also triumphed at the 2024 Australian Open for her first major title, became only the fifth female to win both hardcourt majors in the same season. That illustrious group includes Steffi Graf, Angelique Kerber, Martina Hingis, and Monica Seles.
With Djokovic and Alcaraz out early, no. 1 seed Jannik Sinner emerged as the breakout star on the men's side. Sinner's relentless drive and tactical precision helped him navigate a path to the final, which saw him drop only two sets the entire tournament. In the men’s final, Sinner displayed remarkable composure and consistency, defeating American Taylor Fritz in a straight sets victory that took only two hours and fifteen minutes to complete. Much like Sabalenka, Sinner joined a notable group of players as just the fourth male to take home both hardcourt majors in a single season, along with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Mats Wilander.
With Sinner closing out the final major of the year, 2024 will be remembered as the first time since 2002 that a member of the “Big Three” (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) did not win a major. Of course, Djokovic did provide a worthy asterisk to this trio’s remarkable staying power by winning the Gold Medal in men’s singles at the Paris Olympics.
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The 2024 US Open will go down as a year of transition and change in tennis. With major upsets reshaping both the men’s and women’s draws early on, new champions emerged to claim the spotlight, symbolizing the ever-evolving nature of the sport. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka’s victories signal a possible shift in the competitive balance of tennis, where the next generation is beginning to assert itself. While 2024 may mark the end of an era with none of the “Big Three” winning a major, it also heralds the rise of fresh talent ready to write the next chapter in tennis history.
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*Header photo courtesy of US Open
