Alexei Popyrin entered the US Open in the best form of his career and with a tailwind of confidence after picking off a parade of higher-ranked players to win the Montreal Masters earlier this month. On Friday night, the 25-year-old Sydneysider’s charmed summer reached new heights with a seismic upset of Novak Djokovic that propelled him into the second week of a major tournament for the first time in 23 appearances.
Popyrin, the No 28 seed, ran out to a two-set lead before holding on to win 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 before a stunned crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, denying the second-seeded Djokovic in his bid for a record 25th grand slam singles title and a rare US Open repeat. He advances to the fourth round in a suddenly wide-open quarter where he will meet Frances Tiafoe, the 20th seed who came through a 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 thriller against fellow American Ben Shelton during the daytime session
“Just an awful match for me,” said Djokovic, whose 14 double faults on Friday were a career-high for a grand slam match. “Tournaments like this happen.”
For lengthy stretches on Friday the 37-year-old Djokovic, wearing a sleeve over his surgically repaired right knee, was a silhouette of the ruthless winning machine that has piled up 24 major singles titles, appearing sluggish, disengaged mentally and at times indifferent to his crumbling fortunes.
The 6ft 5in Popyrin took full advantage, pounding 50 winners and finally breaking through after losing a pair of tightly wound four-setters to Djokovic earlier this year. The shock result sends the four-time US Open champion to his earliest exit at Flushing Meadows since a third-round defeat 18 years ago to Lleyton Hewitt, who took in this match from Popyrin’s players’ box.
“Third time lucky I guess,” Popyrin said. “We had battles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. I had chances in those matches but didn’t take them. This match was different. I was able to take my chances when I had them. I played some good tennis.”
The opening stages unfolded deliberately and on even terms for the first eight games with Popyrin staring down the first moments of crisis, saving five break points while serving at 2-3. But it unravelled in a hurry for Djokovic as his opponent rattled off the last eight points of the set in succession, breaking and holding at love to take the opener in 45 minutes.
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