Why Alexei Popyrin believes toppling Novak Djokovic in New York wasn’t the greatest win of his career

As Alexei Popyrin closed on downing the giant of world tennis Novak Djokovic in New York on Friday, he started cursing himself.

The surging Sydneysider, who became just the second Australian to defeat the 24-time major winner in a grand slam, needed no reminding that the Serbian is a legend for a reason.

The 25-year-old, who defeated the defending US Open champion 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 in 3hr 19min on Arthur Ashe Stadium, was aware that that Djokovic was a threat until the very last point given his reputation for overcoming two set deficits in grand slams.

Current world No.1 Jannik Sinner and Swiss superstar Roger Federer are among those reeled in by the best to play the sport in the past.

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Popyrin had let slip one chance to serve out the biggest win of his career by ranking and reputation but forced himself to focus on the task ahead as he strode to the baseline again with a capacity 24,000 crowd roaring for more at 5-4 in the fourth set.

“All of the things that you mention (about the reasons he is a legend) were in my head,” he said.

“He wasn’t playing his best tennis (but) I was waiting for him to kind of step up. I felt like he did in the third set. But my level went down and I didn’t make too many first serves.

“Also, there are countless times when he’s come back from two sets to love down and I didn’t want it to be one of those moments where Novak kind of stepped up and came back from two sets to love down. That was going through my head.

“It was extra motivation for me not to do that and to win that fourth set. (I) kind of had to pump myself up, swear at myself a few times to get back into the mood of winning. I managed to do that and that was amazing.”

It is the most famous win of Popyrin’s career but, as he said when speaking to the press after 1am on Saturday in New York, it is not the best he has ever played, nor is it the most important moment of his career.

The No. 28 seed was delighted by his ability to hold his nerve when Djokovic pressed strongly early in the fourth set and again when rallying from 2-5 down to force him to serve for a spot in the last 16 for the second time in his career.

But he did not feel like he served at a premium and noted there were periods in the match where he was wayward from the baseline. Popyrin struck as many unforced errors as he did winners when notching his first win against Djokovic in their third meeting at grand slam level this year following tight encounters at the Australian Open and also Wimbledon.

“I would say level-wise it probably wasn’t the highest level … because I have had some matches where I have played and I felt way better than I felt out there today,” he said.

“I think the way I composed myself and the way I tactically played the match, that was up there with one of the best matches that I have played. But the level, yeah, it was high, but … honestly, I have had matches where I have won one and one and I’ve have played a match where I’ve hit 50 winners and 50 unforced errors. It was kind of like that.”

Popyrin, who showed he had matured as a player when defeating three top 10 players on the way to winning the Montreal Masters earlier this month, rates his deeds in Quebec higher than toppling the defending champion on the biggest stadium court in the world.

“For me, winning Montreal was way bigger than today, just because it’s a title and it’s a Masters 1000 title. That felt unbelievable,” he said.

“Today was something that I kind of thought I could do, you know? Winning a Masters 1000 was not something that … kind of crossed my head.

“But my two experiences against him earlier this year in the Australian Open and at Wimbledon kind of gave me the confidence to go out there and believe that I could win and actually do it and believe it.

“So when I did it, it kind of felt that kind of proved me right, proved what I was thinking right. It wasn’t something that … was unbelievable like Montreal, for example.”

In winning the Montreal Masters, Popyrin became the first Australian since Hewitt to win an ATP Tour title at that level.

The 2001 US Open champion was in his box courtside for the prime time match across America as he watched the emerging star join him as Aussies to knock off the all-time master in a grand slam following his success in the same round of the US Open in 2006.

“To be mentioned in the same name as Lleyton, one of our greats, is always unbelievable. But it’s a great feeling,” Popyrin said.

“I think I was the first Aussie to win a Masters 1000 since Lleyton also, so that’s also a great feeling. Hopefully I can continue that trend and do some more things that Lleyton has done in the past.”