Novak Djokovic's Shock US Open Exit: Defending Champion Falls to Alexei Popyrin in Third Round

In a stunning turn of events at the US Open, defending champion Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the third round by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The 28th seed secured a surprising 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory, marking Djokovic’s earliest exit from the tournament in 18 years.

Djokovic, who has dominated the Grand Slam scene with 24 titles, displayed uncharacteristic flaws throughout the match. With a career-high 14 double faults and 49 unforced errors, the Serb admitted to playing some of the worst tennis of his career. Despite his extensive experience and past successes, Djokovic struggled with his form, which he attributed to feeling “out of gas” and lacking the energy needed for a deep run in the tournament.

“I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played,” Djokovic conceded after the match. “Honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, third round is a success.”

Popyrin, buoyed by his recent ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, demonstrated exceptional confidence and resilience. He capitalized on Djokovic’s erratic play and served decisively to close out the match. This win propels Popyrin into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, where he will face Frances Tiafoe.

The match was characterized by Djokovic’s struggles and Popyrin’s tactical play. Djokovic showed glimpses of his old self, particularly in the third set where he fought back to win 6-2. However, Popyrin’s persistence paid off in the fourth set, where he broke Djokovic’s serve at a crucial moment and held his nerve to serve out the match.

For Djokovic, this early exit means he will end the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017. The search for his 25th major title will continue into the next season. His defeat follows a disappointing performance by French Open and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz, who was also eliminated early in the tournament.

In other matches, Frances Tiafoe avenged his previous loss to Ben Shelton in a five-set thriller, while American Taylor Fritz and Russian Andrey Rublev secured their spots in the fourth round with commanding victories. Fritz is yet to drop a set in the tournament, and Rublev will face Grigor Dimitrov, who also progressed with a dominant win.

Djokovic’s exit underscores the unpredictability of tennis and highlights the increasing competitiveness on the men’s tour. As the tournament progresses, the absence of Djokovic and other top contenders opens the field for new champions to emerge.