Djokovic falls to Aussie Popyrin in latest US Open shocker
'Some of the worst tennis I have ever played' - Djokovic crashes out of US Open
Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title came to a stunning end on Friday as he was defeated in the US Open third round by 28th-ranked Alexei Popyrin. The 25-year-old Australian stunned the defending champion with a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory, marking Djokovic’s earliest exit from the US Open in 18 years and his earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2017 Australian Open.
Popyrin’s upset came just a day after third seed Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp. Despite having beaten Popyrin in their three previous encounters, including matches at this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic was undone by 14 double faults and 49 unforced errors.
“It was just an awful match for me,” Djokovic admitted. “I tried so many things and lost my rhythm, movement, and timing. I moved away from the basics, and it cost me.”
Popyrin, fresh off his career-best title win at the Montreal Masters, played fearlessly, saving five break points in a crucial first-set game and seizing the first two sets. Djokovic rallied in the third set but couldn’t maintain momentum, and Popyrin took control in the tense fourth set, ultimately securing the biggest win of his career.
Popyrin will face Frances Tiafoe next, who triumphed over fellow American Ben Shelton in a five-set battle, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3. Tiafoe, ranked 10th, avenged his loss to Shelton from last year’s US Open quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, world number six Andrey Rublev defeated Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-5, 6-4, while eighth-seeded Casper Ruud staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to overcome China’s Shang Juncheng 6-7 (1/7), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Coco Gauff overcame late-match nerves to defeat Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Gauff will next face fellow American Emma Navarro, who advanced after a three-set win against Marta Kostyuk.
Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka battled past Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a late-night match that wrapped up at 1:48 am. Meanwhile, seventh seed Zheng Qinwen of China cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Jule Niemeier, setting up a rematch with Donna Vekic, her opponent from the Paris Olympics gold medal match.
With thrilling upsets and dramatic matches, the US Open continues to deliver surprises as it heads into the later rounds.
