Fortunately, there were the Olympic Games. Novak Djokovic, the title holder and favorite of the US Open, was eliminated on Friday, August 30, from the 3rdmy Australian Alexei Popyrin’s tour, who ends the calendar year without a Grand Slam title, for the first time since 2017. But for the Serbian, 2024 will still be a year of difference with the Olympic gold won with great emotion in Paris, the last trophy missing from his list of achievements.
However, the surprise remains significant for the world number 2, one day after the elimination of the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (3my) by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in three dry sets.
Popyrin, 25, achieved the feat in four sets (6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4) against the 37-year-old Serbian player, seeking a 25thmy important title: absolute record.
“One of the worst levels of tennis in my life”
The Australian, beaten this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon by Djokovic, confirms that he is in great form: he won the Masters 1000 in Montreal (Canada) in mid-August. On Friday he made the most of the atmosphere of the evening session on the huge Arthur-Ashe court to win a classy fourth set, while Djokovic seemed to regain the advantage.
The fifth game, sublime, ended with a long cry from Popyrin, launched as the ball left his racket in a forehand winner from the gut, for a break that launched him towards the feat.
“Well done to him and his team, he deserves his victory, he was very good.Djokovic commented. For my part, given the way I have been playing since the start of the tournament, a third round is already good. I showed one of the worst levels of tennis in my life, with my worst level on serve by far. »
“It’s incredible, I’ve made it to the second round so many times and to finally be able to make it through to that round against the greatest player of all time is an incredible feeling.”exclaimed Alexei Popyrin on the court.
Evidence of the great performance achieved by the 28my World player: Novak Djokovic had not been eliminated so early in New York since 2006 – a setback against another Australian, Lleyton Hewitt, present in the stands on Friday – or since early 2017 in a Grand Slam tournament.
