Since which Grand Slam had no member of the Big Three reached the second round before the 2026 US Open?

No member of the Big Three had failed to reach the second round of a major since the 2003 French Open before the 2026 US Open.

At the 2026 US Open, Novak Djokovic lost in the first round to Mariano Navone. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were not competing, so none of the trio advanced to round two. The tournament’s men’s singles draw therefore created a rare generational landmark.

The term Big Three refers to Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, who dominated men’s tennis for much of the early 21st century. Their combined Grand Slam success made their absence from the second round an unusual statistical event.

The comparison with the 2003 French Open is chronological, not a claim that the same circumstances occurred. In 2003, the three players were at very different stages of their careers. By 2026, Djokovic was the only member still appearing in the major draw, which made his opening-round defeat decisive for the record.