Alexei Popyrin stunned No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic in a four-set match, advancing to the fourth round of the US Open. Djokovic, reflecting on his performance, admitted he played poorly, particularly highlighting his serving as the critical issue in his unexpected third-round exit.
“I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly,” Djokovic stated, noting his struggles included 14 double faults, bringing his total for the tournament to 32. He lost to the 28th-seeded Popyrin with scores of 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. This defeat marks Djokovic’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2017 Australian Open and only the third instance in the Open era where two of the top three men’s seeds at the US Open were eliminated before the fourth round.
“It was just an awful match for me,” Djokovic commented. Despite feeling physically fine and motivated, he couldn’t find his rhythm. Having undergone knee surgery in June, this year marks the first time since 2017 that he ends a season without a major title, and it is also the first season since 2002 without a Grand Slam win for the so-called “Big Three” of tennis, which includes Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Popyrin, who had never previously won a match against Djokovic, capitalized on the opportunities presented to him, playing aggressively and remaining mentally strong. “I didn’t want to be one of those moments where Novak kind of stepped up and came back,” he revealed, reflecting on his strategy during the match.
The loss is Djokovic’s lowest performance at the US Open, tying his previous early exits in 2005 and 2006. This match was particularly poignant as Lleyton Hewitt, who defeated Djokovic in 2005, was in Popyrin’s guest box.
Djokovic acknowledged the toll of winning his first Olympic gold earlier this month against Carlos Alcaraz, attributing his lack of freshness to that experience. “I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive in New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically,” he explained.
As Popyrin prepares to take on No. 20 Frances Tiafoe in hopes of reaching his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, he recognizes the opportunity that has arisen with Djokovic’s and Alcaraz’s exits. “If he serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody,” Djokovic remarked, closing with a recognition of the tournament’s shifting dynamics following his and Alcaraz’s unexpected departures.