International Courant
Alexei Popyrin surprises the world quantity 2, who ends the season with no Grand Slam title for the primary time since 2017.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic suffered a serious upset on the US Open, dropping to Alexei Popyrin, depriving the Serb of his document twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
Australian Popyrin defeated Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 within the third spherical at Flushing Meadows on Friday.
“I put a variety of power into successful the gold, and once I arrived in New York I did not really feel contemporary mentally and bodily,” Djokovic advised reporters, who gained the lads’s singles gold medal on the Paris Olympics earlier this month.
Popyrin, who misplaced to Djokovic at each the Australian Open and Wimbledon this yr, raised his arms in triumph as he reached the spherical of 16 of a serious match for the primary time.
“Third time’s the attraction, I believe,” Popyrin mentioned in an on-field interview.
Djokovic, 37, was uncharacteristically sloppy, making 14 double faults – a document for him in a Grand Slam match – whereas his 25-year-old opponent hit 50 successful photographs.
The world quantity 2 had 5 break level alternatives within the first match, however did not convert any of them. Popyrin broke his serve on his first alternative to take a 5-4 lead, successful the primary set.
Popyrin broke once more within the second set when Djokovic’s volley went huge to make it 3-2. With a wonderfully executed serve and volley he took management of the match and gained the second set.
Alexei Popyrin will now try to succeed in his first Grand Slam quarter-final by beating Frances Tiafoe (Julia Nikhinson/AP Photograph)
Djokovic confirmed a vigorous presence within the third however his comeback was short-lived as Popyrin smashed an outstanding forehand winner, made a break and took a 3-2 lead within the fourth.
“I truthfully performed among the worst tennis I’ve ever performed,” Djokovic mentioned. “Serving – by far – the worst ever.”
His defeat adopted the shock loss to 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz entered the US Open as a favourite after successful the French Open and Wimbledon, however was knocked out on Thursday by 74th-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
It is just the third time within the Open period that two of the highest three males on the US Open have been eradicated earlier than the fourth spherical, with earlier instances coming in 1973 and 2000.
“It was only a horrible match for me,” Djokovic mentioned. “I did not play wherever close to my finest sport. It is not good to be in that state the place you feel okay 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 believe you must settle for that these sorts of tournaments occur.”
Djokovic was making an attempt to develop into the primary participant in tennis historical past to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles. As a substitute, after knee surgical procedure in June, he ends a yr with out claiming at the least one main championship for the primary time since 2017.
Djokovic has reached the US Open last ten instances, successful in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
Popyrin will now try to succeed in his first Grand Slam quarter-final by beating Frances Tiafoe, who beat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 on Friday in a match between two Individuals.
“If he serves nicely, performs nicely, he can beat anybody,” Djokovic mentioned of Popyrin. “Look, Alcaraz is out. I am out. A couple of large surprises. The draw is getting wider.”
Defending champion Novak Djokovic eradicated from US Open | Tennis Information
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