US Originate 2024 results: Novak Djokovic upset by Alexei Popyrin in third round as top seeds proceed to descend

No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin upset world No. 2 Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, in the third round of the 2024 US Originate. The 25-one year-veteran earned a save to his first round of 16 in a Colossal Slam and a date with American well-known individual Frances Tiafoe on Sunday.

Forward of Friday, Popyrin held a 87-106 document and had by no method crushed a top-five opponent in a fundamental tournament. It became once a vibrant result, in particular interested in the evening earlier than had an very fair loyal bigger upset with world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz shedding to unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.

“It is wonderful ensuing from I’ve been in the third round about 15 situations in my occupation, but I have not been ready to earn previous to the fourth round,” Popyrin said. “And so that you just can blueprint it against the final be conscious of all time to earn into the fourth round, or not it is wonderful. It is a tall feeling and the laborious work has paid off.” 

This marked Djokovic’s first loss in the third round of the US Originate since 2006 against Lleyton Hewitt — who became once at Arthur Ashe Stadium to gaze Popyrin’s buy. 

Djokovic won three out of 4 fundamental titles closing season, but this one year will raze with out a single title. The closing time one of many Expansive 3 — Djokovic, Rodger Federer and Rafael Nadal — did not buy a Colossal Slam in a calendar one year became once 2002. Nonetheless, Djokovic has aloof been playing at a excessive stage and even performed a occupation Golden Slam along with his Olympic gold medal on the Paris Video games earlier this summer season.

“Congratulations to him and his crew,” said Djokovic, who did not cite any physical factors. “He with out a doubt played greater and deserved to buy it recently. On my raze, really the method I felt and the method I played from the starting of this tournament, third round is successful. I’ve played about a of the worst tennis I’ve ever played, really, serving by some distance the worst ever.”

Popyrin took adjust of the match comely away, while Djokovic became once placing up an uncharacteristically excessive decision of double faults. The broken-down — who later said he correct felt “out of gasoline” for the explanation that launch of the tournament — didn’t look indulge in his recurring dominant self, but he realized an even bigger rhythm in the third situation while Popyrin started making extra unforced errors.

Djokovic went up 4-2 in the third situation and received love from the workers at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He went on to buy the next two games and pressure a fourth situation. Even Popyrin’s countryman Lop Kyrgios hadn’t misplaced self assurance in Djokovic’s skills yet.

Djokovic won the first sport of the fourth situation, but Popyrin wasn’t about to let this breeze out of his hands. He tied it at 1-1, and the the rest of the situation stayed highly aggressive.

A double fault by Djokovic gave Popyrin the profit after they had been tied 2-2. Djokovic persisted struggling along with his abet and received hit by a time violation. Popyrin screamed when he received the three-2 lead, and however when he prolonged his lead with an ace.

Djokovic had the profit while looking out to buy the next sport, but he gave it up with yet yet any other double fault. He received the profit once extra, but gave the point away again. Djokovic registered a total of 14 double faults on Friday, which became once potentially the most ever for him in a fundamental tournament. His earlier excessive became once 12 right by means of the gap round of Wimbledon abet in 2010.