Djokovic Exit Ends 'Big Three' Reign over Grand Slams

Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal wait for the start of the awards ceremony after their men's singles final match of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 29, 2017. (AFP)
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal wait for the start of the awards ceremony after their men's singles final match of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 29, 2017. (AFP)
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Djokovic Exit Ends 'Big Three' Reign over Grand Slams

Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal wait for the start of the awards ceremony after their men's singles final match of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 29, 2017. (AFP)
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal wait for the start of the awards ceremony after their men's singles final match of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 29, 2017. (AFP)

Novak Djokovic's sensational exit from the US Open on Sunday has ended the Grand Slam reign of the “Big Three” of men's tennis while ensuring a first-time major champion at Flushing Meadows.

With Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal skipping the tournament, Djokovic was hot favorite to claim an 18th Grand Slam title, but his disqualification for inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball has thrown the tournament wide open.

Not since Stan Wawrinka's 2016 US Open triumph has a Grand Slam been won by someone other than the “Big Three”, winners of the last 13 major titles.

To find the last Slam without either Djokovic, Federer or Nadal in the quarter-finals requires a much deeper dive into the record books, landing at the 2004 French Open where Federer was stopped in the third round by Gustavo Kuerten.

On Sunday, Djokovic's rivals expressed shock and some sympathy for the Serb, who was defaulted when trailing 6-5 in the first set against Pablo Carreno Busta.

Yet those left standing in the men's draw may be privately thrilled about their chances of claiming the trophy.

"Now I think is the time where it gets really interesting," said fifth seed Alexander Zverev, who thrashed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets.

Zverev meets Croatian 27th seed Borna Coric in the quarter-finals and could have faced Djokovic in the semis.

Touted as a future Grand Slam champion since his teen years, German Zverev made the Australian Open semi-finals in January and is well positioned in New York to fulfil that promise.

"It's going to be one of the young guys (winning), I think, if you count Dominic Thiem as a young guy, as well," said Zverev of the 27-year-old Austrian.

"He obviously has a chance to win, as well."

Second seed Thiem, who stopped Zverev at Melbourne Park and pushed Djokovic to five sets in the final, is the major threat on the other half of the draw.

The three-times Grand Slam finalist faces Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round before a potential quarter-final against unseeded Vasek Pospisil or Australian 21st seed Alex de Minaur.

One of the biggest dangers to Thiem's hopes of a Grand Slam breakthrough may be last year's finalist Daniil Medvedev, a likely semi-final foe.

The rangy Russian third seed lost a five-set classic to Nadal in last year's decider and was declared the man most likely to break the Big Three's Grand Slam stranglehold by John McEnroe and others.

Medvedev will meet unseeded American Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round on Monday, before a potential quarter-final against Italian Matteo Berrettini or fellow Russian Andrey Rublev.



Seven-times French Champions Lyon Relegated to Ligue 2

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Olympique de Marseille - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 22, 2024 Olympique Lyonnais' Maxence Caqueret reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Olympique de Marseille - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 22, 2024 Olympique Lyonnais' Maxence Caqueret reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo
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Seven-times French Champions Lyon Relegated to Ligue 2

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Olympique de Marseille - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 22, 2024 Olympique Lyonnais' Maxence Caqueret reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Olympique de Marseille - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 22, 2024 Olympique Lyonnais' Maxence Caqueret reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo

Olympique Lyonnais (EEFG.PA), have been relegated to Ligue 2, French football's financial watchdog (DNCG) said on Tuesday following an audit of the club, which said it would appeal the decision immediately.

Lyon were provisionally demoted by the DNCG in November due to the poor state of their finances and the decision was confirmed on Tuesday after a meeting between club owner John Textor and the DNCG.

The club criticised the decision in a statement on Tuesday and said it had worked closely with the DNCG, satisfying all their requests.

"Olympique Lyonnais takes note of the incomprehensible decision handed down by the DNCG this evening and confirms that it will appeal immediately," the club said, Reuters reported.

"With demonstrated funds and sporting success that has earned us a place in European competition two years running, we sincerely fail to understand how an administrative decision could relegate such a great French club."

The decision to relegate Lyon comes a day after US businessman Textor sold a 43% stake in English club Crystal Palace.

"Thanks to the equity contributions from our shareholders and the sale of Crystal Palace, our cash position has improved considerably and we have more than sufficient resources for the 2025/26 season," the Lyon statement added.

In October, Textor’s Eagle Football Group revealed debts totalling around 422 million pounds ($574.85 million), raising concerns about the French club's financial stability.

Since then, Lyon have raised funds by offloading several players, including Maxence Caqueret to Como and Rayan Cherki to Manchester City.

The club, however, have been unable to convince the authorities that their financial situation has improved enough to have the sanctions lifted.

The 59-year-old Textor gave a positive assessment of their financial position prior to the decision being announced.

"You can see from the contributions of our shareholders, we have invested new capital, not only for the DNCG, but also for our UEFA licensing process. Not to mention the good news of the sale of Crystal Palace. Our liquidity situation has improved considerably," he told reporters earlier on Tuesday.

Lyon, who were crowned French Champions seven times between 2002 and 2008, qualified for next season's Europa League following a sixth-placed finish in Ligue 1.

Should the decision stand, Stade de Reims, who were demoted from Ligue 1 in the relegation playoffs after losing to Metz, will take Lyon’s spot next season in the French top tier.