International Courant
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, among the best tennis gamers ever, was disenchanted on the US Open on Friday evening. Djokovic misplaced within the third spherical 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Twenty eighth-seeded Alexei Popyrin from Australia.
The second-seeded Djokovic’s defeat got here only one evening after third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, who entered the US Open as a favorite, was defeated within the second spherical.
“It was only a horrible match for me,” Djokovic stated. “I did not play wherever close to my finest sport. It isn’t good to be in that state the place you are feeling good bodily, and naturally you are motivated as a result of it is a Grand Slam, however you are simply not capable of finding your sport. That is it. The sport is falling aside, and I feel it’s a must to settle for that tournaments like this occur.”
CARLOS ALCARAZ DEFEATED IN STRAIGHT SETS BY BOTIC VAN DE ZANDSCHULP IN SECOND ROUND AT US OPEN
Novak Djokovic of Serbia shakes arms with Alexei Popyrin of Australia throughout a 3rd spherical match of the US Open tennis championship, Friday, August 30, 2024, in New York. (AP)
Djokovic had been making an attempt to change into the primary participant in tennis historical past to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles. As an alternative, he went a yr with out claiming no less than one main championship for the primary time since 2017. Earlier than that, 2010 was the final time he went a yr and not using a main championship.
This yr marks the primary time since 2002 that Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer haven’t received a Grand Slam trophy.
Djokovic’s third-round exit is as dangerous as his worst efficiency at Flushing Meadows. The one different instances he was overwhelmed this early on the US Open had been in 2005 and 2006.
US OPEN PLAYER WHO LOST TO COCO GAUFF ADMITS SHE TOOK A NAP BETWEEN MATCHES
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts to Alexei Popyrin of Australia throughout a 3rd spherical match of the US Open tennis championship, Friday, August 30, 2024 in New York. (AP)
He reached the ultimate at Arthur Ashe Stadium ten instances, successful the title in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
Nevertheless, on Friday he made 14 double faults and appeared bodily gradual and emotionally flat. This comes after he secured Serbia’s first Olympic gold medal by beating Alcaraz within the ultimate of the Paris Video games earlier this month.
“It positively had an impact,” Djokovic stated. “I put a whole lot of power into successful the gold, and I arrived in New York not feeling mentally and bodily recent. However as a result of it is the US Open, I attempted and I did my finest. I imply, I did not have any bodily issues. I simply felt exhausted. And you can see that in the way in which I performed.”
Alexei Popyrin of Australia reacts to Novak Djokovic of Serbia throughout a 3rd spherical match of the US Open tennis championship, Friday, August 30, 2024, in New York. (AP)
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Popyrin will now try to succeed in his first Grand Slam quarter-final after beating Djokovic, hoping to beat No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, who outlasted No. 13 Ben Shelton in a sometimes American match on Friday evening, lasting 4 hours and three minutes.
“If he serves properly, performs properly, he can beat anybody,” Djokovic stated of Popyrin. “Look, Alcaraz is out. I am out. Just a few large surprises. The draw is getting wider.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic defeated by Alexei Popyrin in US Open third spherical
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