Australia’s Alexei Popyrin has produced the performance of his life to end Novak Djokovic’s US Open defence in New York.
Australia’s Alexei Popyrin has produced the match of his life to knock out defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round of the US Open.
Popyrin, the 28th seed, won the match 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 in one of the biggest grand slam shocks in recent memory.
Djokovic, who holds 24 grand slam singles titles, was aiming to pull clear of Australian Margaret Court with an all-time record 25th major at Flushing Meadows.
Instead, the No. 2 seed is heading home and Popyrin is toasting the biggest win of his injury-plagued career.
The 25-year-old is the first person to knock the Serbian superstar out before the fourth round of the American slam since a generation ago, when Lleyton Hewitt beat Djokovic in the third round way back in 2006.
That is also the last time all-time great Djokovic lost to an Aussie player.
Popyrin served for the match up 5-2 in the fourth set, but was unable to earn a match point as Djokovic held his nerve to break back.
Popyrin then took advantage of his second opportunity, comfortably serving out the match in one of the great upsets in Aussie tennis history.
“Third time lucky I guess,” a stunned looking Popyrin said in his post-match interview on court.
“No, honestly we had some battles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon and I had my chances without taking them.
“This match was a little bit different, I was able to take my chances when I had them and played some good tennis.”
A day after third seed Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out in another massive upset, the draw has now opened right up at this year’s final grand slam.
In-form Popyrin, who reached the final of the recent Canadian Open, will now face local favourite Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round.
“It’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times in my career,” Popyrin joked.
“To get in the fourth round against the greatest of all time is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling.”
There was a huge reaction to the upset on social media.
The Tennis Letter account posted on X: “Fully deserved. This kid can really play. He had lost to Novak twice already in slams, he wasn’t gonna let it happen again. Chills.”
“Remember this name,” the ATP Tour account posted. “Alexei Popyrin stuns Djokovic to advance to R4 in NYC.”
Queen Bea Fielder added: “Wow! What a match! Popyrin knocks out Djokovic, playing phenomenal tennis. Congrats! Well done!”
The official US Open account wrote: “Arthur Ashe stadium belongs to Alexei Popyrin tonight!”
Other tennis fans were left wondering where the defeat leaves the 37-year-old Djokovic.
“It might be the end of an era,” was one comment.
“Bloodbath at US Open continues. Yesterday it was Alcaraz. Today it’s Djoker,” wrote another.
“Novak looked like he didn’t even want to be there,” suggested a third.
Source: News.com.au
