Novak Djokovic is the latest victim of WE. Open of surprises. The Serbian tennis player followed in the footsteps of Carlos Alcaraz and, a day after the Spaniard’s farewell, he was eliminated in the third round by the Australian Alexei PopyrineThe current champion of the New York tournament was surprised by the 28th world player, who signed the biggest victory of his career in three hours and 19 minutes (6-4, 6-4, 2-6 and 6-4).
Djokovic’s defeat makes a lot of sense, as 2024 will be the first year since 2002 that the ‘Three big ones‘doesn’t win a grand slam. With Roger Federer retired, Rafa Nadal With a limited schedule and a “Nole” weighed down by injuries this year, even if he recently won Olympic gold, an era is inevitably coming to an end.
It is also the first year since 2017 without a major for Djokovic, who will have to continue to wait to win his 25th Grand Slam. This number would allow him to break the tie with. Marguerite Court (24) as the tennis player who has won the most “major” titles in history. A four-time US Open champion, he will also not be able to match the record of five titles at Flushing Meadows that they share. Roger Federer, Rock Sampras And Jimmy Connors.
“I played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played,” a self-critical Djokovic said after the match. You have to go back a long way to find the last time the Serbian tennis player lost in the third round of the US Open: it was in 2006 and against another Australian, Lleyton Hewitt.
You also have to go back to 2017 to know the last time Djokovic failed to reach the round of 16 of a Grand Slam: it was in Australian Openwhere he lost in the second round and in five sets against Uzbekistan Denis istomine.
It was a tough US Open for Djokovic. At 37, he just gave it his all in the Paris Games and he landed in New York very ill physically, having withdrawn from playing the previous tournaments of the North American summer tour. In 2024, he had played only three tournaments on hard courts –Plain cutAustralian Open and Indian Well-, and all took place during the first quarter of the year.
To this must be added that, even if the result surprised everyone, the test that Djokovic had before him was of the highest level. Popyrin, 25, arrived at the US Open at the best moment of his sporting career after winning the tournament just two and a half weeks ago. MontrealThis is his first Mastery 1000 in his window.
An unforgettable Popyrin
With all this, Popyrin, imperial this Friday, dominated with a firm hand the first two sets of the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium against a Djokovic who did not succeed in a single to break in both sets and would finish the match with 14 double faults. “Serve-wise, it was by far my worst match,” the Serb later admitted.
Despite the critical nature of the situation, for “Nole” it was somehow familiar territory, since in 2023 and also in the third round in New York, he lost the first two sets against his compatriot. Laslo Djere and ended up making an epic return to the game.
The third set response was thrilling with three breaks for Djokovic and a set in the bag on the fast track when things were looking worse. The fourth set was a magnificent battle, with Djokovic and Popyrin trading forehands as the crowd at the Arthur Ashe I enjoyed the show.
The key moment of the evening came at 2-2. In a very long game from Djokovic on serve, Popyrin invented an impressive thunderbolt with his forehand and his scream, after having succeeded in the to breakwas heard in every corner of the stadium. “Nole’s resistance lasted a little longer as Popyrin went ahead to close out a gigantic victory and leave the US Open throne empty and looking for an heir.
The way is open for Jannik Fishermanworld number 1 and recent protagonist of the great controversy on the circuit after the pardon for his double positive in Clostebol.
Without number 2 (Djokovic) or 3 (Alcaraz), his big enemies are the German Alexander Zverevthat he will not see before a hypothetical final, and his potential rival in the quarter-finals, the Russian Daniel Medvedevthe last US Open champion in the draw.
