In a stunning turn of events at the US Open, Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and 24-time Grand Slam winner, has been eliminated in the third round by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The 28th seed Popyrin secured a 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory, marking Djokovic’s earliest exit from the tournament since 2006.
Djokovic, who has been a dominant force in tennis for nearly two decades, was far from his best. He committed a career-high 14 double faults and 49 unforced errors, leading him to admit, “I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played.” The Serb’s defeat signifies his first year without a Grand Slam title since 2017, as he continues his pursuit of a record 25th major title.
Popyrin, brimming with confidence from his recent ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, took advantage of Djokovic’s erratic performance. Despite a spirited fight from the Serb, who briefly surged in the third set, Popyrin held his nerve and eventually triumphed.
Djokovic’s exit comes on the heels of Carlos Alcaraz’s surprising loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round, adding to the high-profile upsets of the tournament. Djokovic reflected on his performance, attributing his struggles to fatigue from his recent Olympic gold and the lack of match practice on hard courts.
As Popyrin advances to the fourth round, he will face Frances Tiafoe, who overcame Ben Shelton in a dramatic five-set match. Meanwhile, the tournament continues to unfold with other notable performances, including Taylor Fritz’s flawless run and a remarkable comeback by Casper Ruud.
With Djokovic’s early departure, the US Open sees a significant shift in the landscape of the men’s draw, highlighting the unpredictable nature of tennis at the highest level.