Novak Djokovic’s quote for significant No. 25 will need to wait till 2025.
The World No. 2 crashed out of the 2024 U.S. Open Friday following a stunning 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the 3rd round. Djokovic did not resemble his normal scientific self, serving a career-high 14 double faults (in majors) and dedicating as numerous as 49 unforced mistakes.
Popyrin, the 28th seed, went into the occasion at Flushing Meadows overflowing with self-confidence after clinching his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal in early August. The Aussie reached his career-high ranking of No. 23 with a 20-16 songs record heading into the last significant of the year.
While Popyrin was the underdog on paper, he did not act as such after disturbing Djokovic on Friday.
“It’s amazing due to the fact that I’ve remained in the 3rd round about 15 times in my profession however have not had the ability to get to the 4th round,” Popyrin stated, by means of BBC. “To be able to do it versus the best of perpetuity to enter the 4th round boggles the mind, it’s an excellent sensation that the effort has actually settled.”
Popyrin will next deal with American Frances Tiafoe in the 4th round on Sunday.
Earliest exit in 18 years
When it comes to Djokovic, the loss marked his earliest U.S. Open exit given that his loss to Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in the 3rd round in 2006. Ever since, the Serb had actually reached a minimum of the semifinal or last every year, other than 2017 when he withdrew with a season-ending elbow injury.
The loss likewise indicated Djokovic would end a fiscal year without a significant for the very first time considering that 2017. The 24-time significant winner’s mission to break the tie with Margaret Court, who won 24 majors in between 1960 and 1971, did not concern fulfillment in 2024, with losses at the Australian Open (semifinal loss), French Open (injury withdrawal in QF), Wimbledon (Finals loss) and now U.S. Open (third-round loss).
“Life carries on. I’ll attempt to recalibrate and eagerly anticipate what’s next,” Djokovic stated after the loss.
With Carlos Alcaraz and Djokovic out of the image, many experts feel World No. 1 Jannik Sinner remains in the motorist’s seat to clinch his 2nd significant of the year following his Australian Open triumph. The Italian will play Australia’s Christopher O’Connell in the 3rd round on Saturday.
Obviously, the double exits likewise unlock for Americans such as Taylor Fritz and Tiafoe. No American guy has actually won the U.S. Open title considering that Andy Roddick in 2003.