Novak Djokovic knocked OUT of US Open less than 24 hours after Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic has been knocked out of the US Open by Alexei Popyrin in the second enormous upset in the space of 24 hours after Carlos Alcaraz' exit
Novak Djokovic is OUT of the U.S. Open after an enormous upset at the hands of Alexei Popyrin in the third round. Djokovic was beaten in four sets (6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4) by the Australian, ranked No.28 in the world.
It comes less than 24 hours after Carlos Alcaraz was also dumped out of the tournament. The Spaniard was beaten by unseeded Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets on Thursday night.
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Both Djokovic and Alcaraz's shock eliminations blow the final Grand Slam of the year wide open. No.1 seed Jannik Sinner remains in the draw, but the No.2 and No.3 seeds are now both out.
Popyrin edged the first two sets to seize control of the match. But he pulled up in discomfort at the end of the season set and needed some treatment.
When Djokovic stormed to the third set in convincing fashion, it seemed the comeback was likely on. Yet Popyrin rallied in incredible fashion, breaking Djokovic in an encapsulating fifth game of the fourth set, then again in the seventh after some incredible forehand winners.
It gave him the chance to serve for the match. But Djokovic broke back to keep his hopes alive after Popyrin had come back from 0-40 to force deuce.
While Djokovic had the crowd behind him early on, Popyrin had them on their feet multiple times in a match which lasted over three hours.
By the end, he had almost the full support of a gripped Arthur Ashe Stadium, left on the edge of their seats as the first match of the evening session - already delayed by over an hour due to Frances Tiafoe's thrilling, five-set win over Ben Shelton - dragged on near midnight.
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Remarkably, Popyrin expressed immense confidence over his ability to beat Djokovic just two months ago when he reflected on their first Grand Slam encounter.
Djokovic beat Popyrin 6-3 4-6 7-6 (4) 6-3 at the Australian Open earlier this year. Before facing him again at Wimbledon, a match Djokovic won after losing the fourth set, Popyrin claimed he had hope and it proved third time lucky.
"I genuinely believe I could have won that match, if I had won that third set," he said at Wimbledon. "I feel like I was in the driver’s seat and I felt super comfortable out there.
"[Djokovic] is a super-solid player, but I do feel he gives you chances every now and then in the points." Those comments proved prophetic, with the biggest win of his career now setting up an encounter with Tiafoe.
