Novak Djokovic, the defending US Open champion, was handed a shock defeat by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round, marking his earliest exit from the tournament in 18 years.
Popyrin, seeded 28th, secured a stunning 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory, ending Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The loss means Djokovic will finish the year without a Grand Slam win for the first time since 2017. The 37-year-old Serb struggled throughout the match, serving 14 double faults—his highest ever in a Grand Slam match—and committing 49 unforced errors.
“I played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played,” Djokovic admitted after the match. “Given how I felt and played from the start of the tournament, getting to the third round is a success.”
Djokovic’s exit follows that of Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, who was eliminated by unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.
Djokovic explained that his energy was depleted after winning Olympic gold earlier this month, calling it his “biggest sporting achievement.”
He added, “I didn’t have any physical issues, I just felt out of gas.”
Popyrin, 25, will make his first-ever fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam, where he will face Frances Tiafoe, who overcame fellow American Ben Shelton in a five-set battle.
Popyrin entered the US Open with momentum, having won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal.
Popyrin displayed remarkable composure, fending off five break points in the first set before clinching it at 4-4 and serving it out. He dominated the second set, winning 88% of points on his first serve as Djokovic continued to struggle.
Though Djokovic came alive in the third set, winning the first three games, Popyrin quickly responded. Despite Djokovic’s efforts to rally, the 24-time major winner couldn’t maintain his momentum, and Popyrin broke him in the fourth set to edge closer to victory.
Djokovic was aiming to claim a fifth US Open title and surpass Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history, but a string of errors, including double faults, sealed his fate. Popyrin, on his second attempt, served out the match, with Djokovic hitting long on match point.
“It’s unbelievable,” Popyrin said after the match. “To do it against the greatest of all time and get into the fourth round is an amazing feeling. The hard work has paid off.”
Djokovic’s struggles were apparent throughout the tournament, despite two earlier straight-set wins.
His 32 double faults over three matches were a clear sign of his fatigue. Mentally drained after his Olympic triumph, the 37-year-old found it challenging to switch surfaces without sufficient match practice.
With Djokovic’s exit, Roger Federer remains the last man to successfully defend a US Open title, a record that dates back to 2008.
Related posts:
Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your New Nvidia RTX 2060
AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea wins as Nsue grabs first Championship hat-trick
Mbappe scores twice as PSG beats 10-man Barcelona to reach Champions League semifinal
Seven years and 11 trophies, but no Champions League: Has Kylian Mbappé’s time at Paris Saint-Germain been a success?
