Djokovic's drop in rankings marks 1st time since 2002 no member of the Big 3 in top 10

George W. Bush was president. The Euro currency had just gone into circulation. Tom Brady was coming off the first of his seven Super Bowl titles. And Ronaldo had just led Brazil to the World Cup trophy.

It’s been nearly a quarter century since no member of the Big Three — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — appeared in the top 10 of the men’s tennis rankings.

With the 39-year-old Djokovic — the last member of the trio still competing — dropping from No. 5 to No. 12 when the latest rankings were released on Monday, it's the first time since October 2002 that neither him, Federer nor Nadal appear in the first 10 entries of the list.

Federer and Nadal retired in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Federer was 41 when he stopped and Nadal was 38.

Lleyton Hewitt was No. 1 in October 2002 and — in a measure of just how much time has passed — his son, 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt, is now a rising professional.

Djokovic was beaten in the first round of the U.S. Open by Mariano Navone 15 days ago.

It was Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades — dating back to the 2006 Australian Open — and the first time ever that he lost his opener at the U.S. Open.

“I’ve been very proud of all the achievements in the past, but now is now,” Djokovic said after the loss in New York.

Djokovic’s 24 major titles are two more than Nadal’s 22 and four more than Federer’s 20.

Federer made his first appearance in the top 10 later in October 2002 and remained there until the end of 2016 – during which time he had a record run of 237 weeks as No. 1.

Nadal entered the top 10 in April of 2005, during his breakout run as an 18-year-old on Europe’s clay courts. The Spaniard remained there for a record 912 consecutive weeks until 2023.

Djokovic was the last of the Big Three to enter the top 10 in 2007. He's had a record of 428 total weeks at No. 1.

With current top players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both missing majors this year due to injury and Alcaraz having said he plans to take more breaks during future seasons, it’s unclear yet if the current generation will have as much staying power as the Big Three.

“I’m proud of the fact that I was able to play from January to November throughout. I never really missed indoor season or Australia or any of the American swings,” Federer said ahead of his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last month.

“I kind of showed up everywhere,” Federer added. “I never really wanted to make it all about the Slams. I remember Pistol (Pete Sampras) talked a lot about how it was Slams only for him toward the end of the career, and I didn’t like the fact that was going to be my case. I liked too many other tournaments and I love the ATP Tour. So from that standpoint, I really tried to keep everything a priority.”

Already, this year has been quite different from last year in terms of men’s finals at the Grand Slams.

After Sinner and Alcaraz met in three of the four major finals last year, they didn’t meet in any in 2026.

Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury and Sinner withdrew from the U.S. Open because of a right knee injury.

While both Alcaraz (Australian Open) and Sinner (Wimbledon) won majors this year, the most consistent performer on the men’s side was Alexander Zverev, who won the French Open and the U.S. Open, lost in the Wimbledon final and reached the semifinals in Australia.

Still, Zverev wasn’t about to declare himself the best.

“If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead,” Zverev said after beating Ben Shelton for the U.S. Open title on Sunday. “It’s as simple as that.”

In the new rankings, Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz remained 1-2-3, respectively, while U.S. Open finalist Ben Shelton jumped five spots to No. 4.

The picture was a bit clearer on the women’s side, where Elena Rybakina won two of the four Grand Slams this year, at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.

Rybakina’s run in New York enabled her to climb to No. 1 in the rankings, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week run at the top.

“Her serve is amazing,” Sabalenka said after Rybakina cranked out 12 aces against her in the U.S. Open final. “The way she (is) able to step in and overpower you on court and especially if it’s a U.S. Open court where it’s super fast, definitely huge advantage for her.”

AP Sports Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, acknowledges the fans after losing to Ben Shelton, of the United States, in the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, early Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, gestures after she won the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, adjusts his headband as he competes against Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Roger Federer, former tennis player, gestures as he receives his Hall of Fame ring at the U.S. Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Anna Nordqvist hoisted the Solheim Cup high as her players cheered beside her and blue-and-yellow-colored smoke exploded in the sky above Bernardus Golf.

For the European team, it was time for the celebrations to truly begin after winning the biggest event in women’s golf.

The Americans — perhaps prematurely — had their party a day earlier.

OK, maybe there was no harm in U.S. captain Angela Stanford bringing a case of beer onto the team bus for the journey back to the hotel after Jennifer Kupcho’s Saturday night heroics. After all, Kupcho had just poured in 120 feet worth of putts on Nos. 17 and 18 to pull a win out of nowhere and bring the Americans level with Team Europe at 8-8 heading into the singles.

The problem? Documenting it.

A social media post on the Team USA accounts showing Stanford and her team in apparent mid-match party mode on the team bus served, inadvertently, to fire up their opponents.

“They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday,” the Europeans, led by assistant captain Mel Reid, chanted on their team bus home after — and that is the crucial part — clinching a 15-13 victory to reclaim the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands.

For Stanford, there was no regrets — at least not about the bus celebrations that the Europeans clearly picked up on.

“The worst thing I could have done is go in there and be like, ‘OK, y’all, come off this high,’” she said. “You don’t want to take away from those moments. We’re never going to see anything like that again.”

What the Americans keep seeing over and over again is Team Europe lifting that crystal trophy.

Over the last five editions, Europe has three wins and also a draw that retained the cup. The Americans' only victory since 2017 came in Virginia two years ago, supposedly heralding a new era of U.S. success in the event.

Well that didn't last long.

Indeed, with four young rookies playing a big part in Europe's latest win, the signs are suddenly very positive for the blue side.

“They just play fearless and they have so much personality,” Nordqvist said of newbies Lottie Woad, Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mimi Rhodes and 21-year-old Nastasia Nadaud — three of whom had important wins in the singles session on Sunday. “I mean, all of the four I had, I never felt like they were rookies.

“They bring out a fresh perspective,” she added, “and I feel really old and I’m glad I’m retiring now because these girls are just so good.”

Certainly good enough to beat an American team that came out flat on Sunday and was never able to remove the blue that filled the scoreboards around Bernardus after a fast start by the motivated Europeans.

Kupcho's outrageous finish on Saturday could have thrown the home team off. It took a motivational speech by Reid on the team bus and a singalong — to “Sweet Caroline,” naturally — to change the mood.

“We just forgot what happened, the disappointment, and we just got back on it,” Reid said.

“Not one of us needed to speak to any player, really. They just knew what their job was in a very calm, passionate and fierce way. The horses are ready, just let them go. And they delivered.”

So what next for the two rivals?

Stanford played down any chance of her staying on in her role, saying the Americans “have a pretty good pipeline” of captains.

Key is finding more depth to back up the undoubted star of the team — top-ranked Nelly Korda — and hoping some of the nation's other better players stay healthy.

Angel Yin wasn't able to find any form in the Netherlands after more than two months out with a serious stomach issue, and Lilia Vu — a major champion and former world No. 1 — didn't even make the team this year. Lexi Thompson, for so long a fixture in the team, is no longer around.

Harder might be developing the kind of culture in the European team that makes winning the Solheim Cup — and the Ryder Cup on the men's side, for that matter — mean so much.

How the Americans would love someone with Carlota Ciganda's mentality, for example.

“Today I knew she had no chance,” the Spaniard said after getting revenge on Kupcho with a 4-and-2 singles win. “I was like, I want to kill you.”

The language was unusually strong — maybe Ciganda was caught up in the moment — but it spoke volumes.

Nordqvist also didn't want to commit to anything after the match. She has just retired from playing so, in theory, has more time available if she really wanted to go again as captain. She got some backing from senior player Charley Hull, who described Nordqvist as an “awesome captain.”

And with that, the Europeans left Bernardus to continue the party and the Americans left to stew for two more years.

See AP’s full golf coverage here

Carlota Ciganda of Europe holds the trophy as she celebrates with teammates after they won the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Mimi Rhodes of Europe celebrates with teammates after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Angela Stanford, United States captain, attends a press conference after her team lost the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Anna Nordqvist, Europe team captain, holds the trophy aloft after her team won the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lottie Woad of Europe of Europe celebrates with teammates after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)