Alexei Popyrin’s victory units up a fourth-round conflict with No. 20 seed Frances Tiafoe, who superior after a gruelling five-set win over fellow American Ben Shelton.
In a surprising flip of occasions on the US Open, defending champion Novak Djokovic was ousted within the third spherical by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The Twenty eighth-seeded Popyrin secured a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over the No. 2 seed, ending Djokovic’s bid to change into the primary tennis participant in historical past to assert 25 Grand Slam singles titles. The loss marks a major second in Djokovic’s profession, as it’s the first time since 2017 that he finishes a yr with out profitable at the very least one main championship.
Season of Challenges for Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic, who underwent knee surgical procedure in June, has confronted a collection of challenges this season. His defeat on the US Open equals his worst-ever displaying on the event, matching third-round exits from 2005 and 2006.
The 37-year-old has loved immense success at Flushing Meadows, having reached the ultimate 10 instances and profitable the title in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023. Nevertheless, on Friday evening, Djokovic appeared bodily sluggish and emotionally drained, doubtless a residual impact of his current victory on the Paris Olympics, the place he claimed his first Olympic gold medal for Serbia.
Alexei Popyrin breakthrough efficiency
For Alexei Popyrin, the victory over Djokovic represents a career-defining second. Previous to this match, Popyrin had by no means gained a set towards Djokovic and had a 0-6 document in third-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old Australian, contemporary off profitable the largest title of his profession at a hard-court event in Montreal, delivered an distinctive efficiency towards Djokovic.
Popyrin’s highly effective serve and aggressive web play had been key to his success. He went 10 for 10 on serve-and-volley approaches and gained 25 of 36 factors when advancing to the web. In distinction, Djokovic struggled, profitable solely 19 of 40 web factors and committing 14 double faults. Popyrin additionally broke Djokovic’s serve 5 instances, together with a vital break within the fourth set that shifted the momentum in his favour.
A New Period in Males’s Tennis?
Djokovic’s defeat on the US Open, mixed with Carlos Alcaraz’s second-round exit, marks a major shift in males’s tennis. For the primary time since 2002, not one of the Large Three—Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—will declare a Grand Slam title in a calendar yr. The altering dynamics of the game are additional highlighted by the rise of youthful gamers like Popyrin, who’re making their mark on the Grand Slam stage.
Wanting Forward at US Open 2024
Alexei Popyrin’s victory units up a fourth-round conflict with No. 20 seed Frances Tiafoe, who superior after a gruelling five-set win over fellow American Ben Shelton. As Popyrin eyes his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, Djokovic must regroup and replicate on a difficult season that has examined the bounds of his legendary profession.
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