Novak Djokovic slumped to his earliest exit on the US Open in 18 years on Friday as a four-set, third spherical defeat to Alexei Popyrin sparked extra questions over his long run future within the sport. The 37-year-old Djokovic, a four-time champion in New York, misplaced 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to the Twenty eighth-ranked Australian, leaving him frustratingly quick as soon as once more of profitable a report twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
His defeat, which noticed him hit an uncharacteristic 14 double faults and commit 49 unforced errors, implies that for the primary time since 2017 he’ll finish the season with no Grand Slam title.
The newest crushing setback is available in a 12 months which noticed Jannik Sinner succeed him as Australian Open champion earlier than Carlos Alcaraz took his French Open crown and swept him off court docket within the Wimbledon closing.
Having defeated him within the Australian Open semi-finals, Sinner went on to additionally take his world primary rating which Djokovic had held for a mixed 428 weeks.
A knee damage, which required surgical procedure, pressured Djokovic to withdraw from the French Open on the eve of his quarter-final.
His restoration nonetheless wasn’t robust sufficient to stop Alcaraz from claiming an eighth Wimbledon.
Friday’s beautiful end result implies that for the primary time since 2002, not one of the Slams can have been received by any members of the ‘Massive Three’ of Djokovic, the absent Rafael Nadal or the retired Roger Federer.
The Serb’s exit on Friday was one other bodyblow to the US Open after Alcaraz was shocked within the second spherical on Thursday.
“I performed some good tennis,” stated Popyrin, who was watched in his participant’s field by Lleyton Hewitt, the person who shocked Djokovic within the third spherical in New York in 2006.
“To be within the fourth spherical of a Grand Slam by beating the best of all time is unbelievable.”
The one comfort for Djokovic in a irritating 12 months was profitable Olympic gold in Paris earlier in August.
He described that emotion-fuelled victory over Alcaraz as his “best achievement” as he turned simply the sixth participant to finish the Golden Slam of 4 majors and Olympic gold.
That title — the 99th of his profession — might develop into his final defining second within the solar.
If he have been to maintain taking part in into 2025 and safe an eleventh Australian Open crown in January, he could be the oldest male Grand Slam champion of the fashionable period.
On Friday, Djokovic paid a heavy value for failing to transform 5 break factors within the sixth sport of the opening set towards Popyrin, 12 years his junior.
The Australian had no such hassle within the ninth sport changing a single break level earlier than confidently serving it out to take the primary set.
Popyrin had misplaced to Djokovic on the Australian Open and Wimbledon this 12 months however arrived in New York buoyed by capturing his first Masters title in Montreal.
That hardcourt confidence shone by as he broke for 3-2 within the second set, backing it up for 4-2 and pocketing the set with a assured serve and volley.
Nevertheless, Djokovic known as on all his powers of restoration to chop the deficit with two breaks of his personal within the third set.
A fired-up Popyrin edged forward 3-2 within the fourth, a break of serve secured with a free-swinging forehand and accompanied by a chilling roar which bounced across the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Popyrin raced double break forward earlier than Djokovic clung on to retrieve one break.
However Popyrin was to not be denied as he sealed a well-known victory for him and marked probably the purpose of no return for Djokovic.
Matters talked about on this article
