New York | Now Djokovic crashes out!

Another blow for US Open organisers as the second seed, Novak Djokovic, their current champion, crashes out of the 2024 edition of their event to Alexei Popyrin, to join Carlos Alcaraz on a flight out of New York, joining the Spaniard who made his exit on Thursday, to reflect on what they both have described as the worst matches they careers.

He played better and deserved to win. Honestly with the way I felt and played from the start of the tournament… round three is a success! Novak Djokovic

Popyrin, the Australian born of Russian parents in Sydney, stepped into the public consciousness by winning the Montreal Masters a few weeks ago in the build up to Flushing Meadows, had been beaten by the Serbian 24-time grand slam champion, in their previous three meetings, including at this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon.

In addition, Popyrin had never progressed past the third round of a grand slam, so this is a major milestone in the 25-year-old’s career as he rolls into the fourth round following his 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 defeat of Djokovic.

Ironically, Djokovic knew what to expect, declaring following his second-round win: “His backhand and his movement has improved a lot. He doesn’t make as many errors as he used to. He’s pumped. There’s no reason for him not to believe that he can put up a great performance. But I know what to expect as well.”

He may have known what was coming but he didn’t have an answer to the fearless tennis generated by his opponent under the lights of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He put down his loss to playing a bad match but did have the generosity of admitting he had been outplayed on the night.

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

“Congrats to him and his team,” the Serbian said. “He played better and deserved to win. Honestly with the way I felt and played from the start of the tournament… round three is a success!

“I played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played. Serving by far some of the worst ever. On a quick surface like this, you can’t win without a serve. You can’t win against the guys who are in form like Alexei. It was just an awful match from me.”

Djokovic, who had to dig deep to win the Olympic gold medal against Alcaraz earlier this month, failed to convert five break point opportunities in the opening set, while Popyrin broke serve on his first chance for a 5-4 lead and then grabbed the first set.

Popyrin broke again when Djokovic’s forehand volley landed wide for a 3-2 advantage, and he soon took control of the match with a perfectly executed serve and volley to capture the second set.

The second-seeded Djokovic showed some life in the third to claw his way back into the match.

But the comeback proved short-lived, with Popyrin letting out a mighty roar when he crushed a ferocious forehand winner to convert his fourth break point in an 11-minute game to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Djokovic had two chances to recover that break but failed to capitalise as Popyrin’s defences held firm.

The Aussie completed the upset when Djokovic’s forehand sailed long on match point.

The defeat means Djokovic has failed to win a grand slam title in a single season for the first time since 2017 and consequently is still chasing the elusive 25th title to become the player’s most successful competitor at this level, surpassing Margaret Court with whom he is currently sharing the record.

On this performance which saw him deliver 14 double faults and commit 48 unforced errors, that goal would seem even more unreachable, especially as he isn’t getting any younger! He did hit 16 aces, one more than his opponent, but only converted four of 16 break points to Popyrin’s 5 from 12 opportunities.

He explains his lack of motivation on a hectic schedule in which he did achieve one goal, that Olympic Gold medal he has always yearned for.
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“Obviously it [the Olympics] had an effect,” the dethroned champion said. “I spent a lot of energy winning the Gold, and I arrived to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically.

“But because it’s the US Open, I gave it a shot and I tried my best. I didn’t have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas.

“Yeah, you could argue that it’s because of the Olympics, but I don’t know. I don’t want to analyse that right now.

“Life moves on. I’ll try and recalibrate and look for what’s next. Tomorrow is a new day.”

He added: “It was just really a big struggle mentally for me to play these three matches here, because I wasn’t playing even close to my best.

“So it’s not good to be in that kind of state where you feel okay physically, and of course you’re motivated because it’s a Grand Slam, but you just are not able to find your game.

“That’s it. The game is falling apart, and I guess you have to accept that tournaments like this happen.”

Alexei Popyrin roars at causing a major upset

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

While it was a very disappointing result for Djokovic, the opposite emotions were experienced by Popyrin who hailed his opponent as the ‘Greatest of all time’ whilst describing the result as ‘unbelievable’.

“It’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times in my career, but I haven’t been able to get past to the fourth round.

“To be able to do it against the greatest of all time to get into the fourth round is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling and the hard work has paid off.”

And the Aussie could go deep as Djokovic points out: “If he serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody,”.

“Look, Alcaraz is out, I’m out… some big upsets,” the Serbian added at his post-match press conference. “The draw is opening up. Obviously, Sinner is the main favourite, but then Tiafoe is there as well as American favourite, Fritz.

“Zverev, you have great guys playing well, and Rublev, Dimitrov in this part of the draw. Anybody can take it. It’s going to be interesting to see who takes the title in the end.”

Popyrin in fact faces Frances Tiafoe next after the American beat his compatriot, Ben Shelton the 13th seed, 4-6 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3.