New York. One day after Carlos Alcaraz’s fall, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was eliminated on Friday night in the third round of the US Open against Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Djokovic, who was defending the title he won last year, was beaten by Popyrin, recent champion of the Canadian Masters 1000, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6 and 6-4 on the centre court of Flushing Meadows (New York).
The Serbian giant calmly endured his worst Grand Slam defeat since 2017 and was left without winning his 25th major trophy, which would have broken the tie with Margaret Court and set an all-time record in tennis.
The elimination of Djokovic and that of the Spaniard Alcaraz the day before, defeated in the second round by the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (number 74 in the ATP), leave the Italian Jannik Sinner, the world number one, as the big favourite for the title.
“We had a lot of battles this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. I had my chances but I didn’t take them. Today I did, playing great tennis,” Popyrin said. “To reach the round of 16 against the best in history is incredible.”
Djokovic’s defeat, although not as shocking as Alcaraz’s due to his opponent’s greater strength, is the first he has suffered in the third round of New York since 2006, precisely against another Australian, Lleyton Hewitt.
A four-time winner (2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023), the Serbian was aiming to be the first to retain his title since Roger Federer won five in a row (2004-2008).
At the Grand Slams, she has not suffered such a severe defeat since her second round defeat at the Australian Open in 2017, the last year in which the Balkan star did not lift a single one of the four major trophies.
Before his setback at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic had reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, the quarter-finals of Roland Garros and the final of Wimbledon this year.
At 37 years old, the Serbian did achieve his goal of winning his first Olympic gold medal by beating Alcaraz in the final of the Paris Games.
Convicted of service
Against Popyrin, ranked 28th in the ATP, Djokovic relapsed into the problems he had been showing with his serve and committed up to 16 double faults, his record in a major tournament.
The Serbian only found respite in the third set from an extremely effective Popyrin for the rest of the game.
The tall Australian player kept his word that he would not be intimidated by the former world number one and challenged him with loud celebrations.
Popyrin confirmed his huge leap in confidence in recent months and, at 25 years old, anticipates an explosion as a star after winning the Canadian Masters 1000 this month.
Djokovic had already shown signs of concern in the second round against his compatriot Laslo Djere, whose injury in the middle of the battle saved him from major problems.
Against Popyrin, Djokovic missed five opportunities to be the first to break in the sixth game and then saw his rival take advantage of his first.
The Australian then accelerated and with 10 consecutive points he pocketed the first set.
Djokovic was also unable to raise his level in the second set and Popyrin, despite injuring his right ankle, managed to extend his lead.
The Serbian was on the ropes, forced to come back from 2-0 down for the ninth time in his legendary career, but his first break at the start of the third set gave him breathing room to fight for the feat.
The reigning champion tried to draw the crowd into his mission by cupping his ear after several spectacular points.
Djokovic took the third set but Popyrin came back in the fourth set, breaking the Serbian star twice, who continued to fight until admitting defeat at the net.
