In a shocking twist at the 2024 US Open, world No. 2 Novak Djokovic was ousted in the third round by No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin.
The 25-year-old Australian secured a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory, marking the first time since 2017 that Djokovic will finish the year without a Grand Slam title.
Popyrin’s win propels him into the round of 16 at a major tournament for the first time, where he will face American star Frances Tiafoe on Sunday.
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Popyrin’s triumph was unexpected, especially considering his modest career record of 87-106 and the fact that he had never defeated a top-five opponent in a Grand Slam before. His victory comes on the heels of another major upset, where world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated by unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp.
“It’s unbelievable,” Popyrin said post-match. “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. And to do it against the greatest of all time to get into the fourth round, it’s unbelievable. It’s a great feeling, and the hard work has paid off.”
For Djokovic, the loss marked his earliest exit at the US Open since 2006. Despite an illustrious 2023 season where he claimed three of the four major titles, 2024 will close without a Grand Slam win for the Serbian legend. This year also marks the first time since 2002 that none of the “Big Three”—Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal—have won a Grand Slam. However, Djokovic still made history in 2024 by completing a career Golden Slam with his Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games.
“Congratulations to him and his team,” Djokovic said, gracious in defeat. “He definitely played better and deserved to win today. On my end, honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, the third round is a success. I’ve played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played, honestly, serving by far the worst ever.”
From the start, Popyrin took control of the match, while Djokovic struggled with his serve, committing an unusually high number of double faults. The Serbian star admitted to feeling “out of gas” from the beginning of the tournament. Despite finding some momentum in the third set, where he capitalized on Popyrin’s growing unforced errors to force a fourth set, Djokovic couldn’t sustain his resurgence.
Popyrin, undeterred, remained composed in the fourth set. A critical double fault by Djokovic, coupled with a time violation, gave Popyrin the upper hand. With his serve firing on all cylinders, Popyrin held firm to clinch the set and the match, sending Djokovic packing with 14 double faults, the most he has ever committed in a major.
As Popyrin advances to face Tiafoe, he does so brimming with confidence, ready to extend his remarkable run at the US Open. Meanwhile, Djokovic will have to reflect on a season of highs and lows, which saw him reach historic milestones but fall short of his usual Grand Slam dominance.
This year’s US Open continues to deliver surprises, and Popyrin’s victory over Djokovic is the latest chapter in this unpredictable tournament. Tennis fans around the world now eagerly await his next challenge against Tiafoe, wondering if the young Australian can continue his extraordinary journey.
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