Australia’s Alexei Popyrin pulled off the biggest win of his career, securing a monumental upset of Novak Djokovic, the #2 seed at the US Open, in the third round of the tournament. Popyrin won in four sets 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4, overall it was a demolition of Djokovic, a four time, and defending US Open champion, and one of the greatest men’s tennis players of all time.
Djokovic struggled with his serve all match, facing a confident Popyrin, that was a scenario that doomed him, the 37 year old Serbian, who was chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, will go without a Grand Slam title in 2024, the first year he has posted that result since 2017 when he failed to advance past the quarterfinal of any Grand Slam. This year Djokovic was vanquished in the third round of the US Open, his worst result in that tournament since 2006, prior to that he lost in the final of Wimbledon, the Quarterfinals of the French Open, and the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Popyrin won the match because he was decisive and clutch when saving break points, the Aussie saved a heap of them for 3-3 in the first set, then broke Djokovic late in the set to take it 6-4, he won the final two games of the set without conceding a point. In the second set it was Popyrin pressing on the gas with his powerful forehand, he broke Djokovic midway through the set and faced limited pressure on his own serve to take a two sets to nil lead. Popyrin and Djokovic would trade breaks in the third set, but it was Djokovic that came up with consecutive breaks of serve to take it 6-2.
The lanky 25 year old Popyrin came back fighting in the fourth set to put the match away, he saved two break points early in the fourth, then broke Djokovic in a long game at 3-2, Popyrin played off the crowd and frustrated Djokovic, he would save two break points on his own serve for a 4-2 lead, then in another marathon game, he broke Djokovic for a 5-2 lead that felt decisive. Djokovic, always the fighter, was still not ready to suffer defeat, he broke Popyrin in the next game, building a love 40 lead, only for Popyrin to save three break points before losing the fourth. Popyrin would serve for the match at 5-4, a full house on Arthur Ashe stadium at New York got loud as Popyrin played with the confidence he has shown in recent weeks, securing a four set victory by taking the final set 6-4.
Popyrin is brimming with confidence now, he has posted his best ever result at a Grand Slam by beating the legendary Djokovic, the fourth round at the US Open surpasses two previous third round showings at the US Open, he also reached the third round at Wimbledon where he battled Djokovic and lost, and previously three times in the third round of the Australian Open where he had also lost to Djokovic before. Twice this year, Djokovic defeated him in Grand Slams, but for the third time, it was Popyrin who prevailed. Popyrin will roar into the top 20 of the ATP rankings at this point, a career high, he didn’t drop a set in rounds 1 and 2, and he won the Canada Masters, the biggest title of his career, earlier in the Summer.
Popyrin has setup a fourth round match with America’s home favorite Frances Tiafoe in New York, Tiafoe defeated Ben Shelton in a five set thriller earlier in the day, and now three of the top four men’s seeds have exited the US Open prior to the second week of the tournament.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: The Enquirer
