US Open 2024 tennis: Alexei Popyrin stuns Novak Djokovic; makes Grand Slam pre-quarterfinals for first time

Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, on Friday, stunned second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round of the US Open 2024 tennis tournament.

Alexei Popyrin, 28th in the tennis rankings, is now through to the pre-quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

This shock result comes just one night after Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the US Open by Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.

This was also Popyrin’s first win over the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the fourth attempt. The two tennis players also met at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.

“Honestly, we had some battles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon,” said Popyrin after the match, which lasted over three hours. “I had my chances of getting in those matches but didn’t take them. This match I was able to take my chances when I got him and play some good tennis.

“It’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times but I haven’t been able to get past to the fourth round in my career," the Aussie pointed out. "And to be able to do it against the greatest of all time, to get into the fourth round is unbelievable.”

The 25-year-old Popyrin entered the US Open as a seeded player for the first time in a Grand Slam, following his historic achievement as the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 to win an ATP 1000 title.

For the 37-year-old Novak Djokovic, it was his earliest exit from the US Open in 18 years.

Novak Djokovic will close the year without a Grand Slam to his name for the first time since an injury riddled 2017 season. However, he managed to complete a Golden Slam after winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics earlier this month.

"I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played," Djokovic summed up his match. "Honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, third round is a success.

"I tried my best, I didn't have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas, and you could see that. From the first match, I just didn't find myself on this court," Djokovic added.

At the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Popyrin squandered three breakpoint opportunities in the seventh game of the first set. However, the Australian tennis player broke Djokovic’s serve in the ninth game without losing a point and took a 1-0 lead in the match.

With the momentum on his side, Popyrin took another early break in the second set as Djokovic made three unforced errors of his serves in the fifth game. Popyrin continued his strong hold on serves to go 2-0 up.

In a must-win set, Novak Djokovic put Popyrin on the backfoot with some strong returns. After winning an early break to go 3-0 up, Djokovic broke Popyrin’s serve in the sixth game to pull one set back in his favour.

Both players started the fourth set cautiously but Popyrin pounced on a crucial opportunity in the fifth game. Djokovic saved three break points but eventually gave in to the pressure added on by Popyrin.

The Australian tennis player won another break in the seventh game and raced to a 5-2 lead. Djokovic reduced the deficit to 5-4 but with an opportunity to win the match, Popyrin’s big serves helped him wrap up the contest in four sets.

Popyrin will now play home favourite Frances Tiafoe in the pre-quarterfinals of the US Open 2024 tennis tournament.