Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes his face in opposition to =Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, throughout a 3rd spherical match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photograph/Julia Nikhinson)
Defending champion Novak Djokovic admitted he had performed “his worst tennis ever” as he slumped to his earliest exit on the US Open in 18 years on Friday, sparking 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 within the third spherical to Twenty eighth-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia, leaving him frustratingly brief as soon as once more of profitable a file twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
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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 out a Grand Slam title.
READ: Novak Djokovic suffers shock loss at US Open third spherical
“The way in which I performed from the start of the event reaching the third spherical is successful,” stated a despondent Djokovic, who stays marooned on 24 Slam titles with Margaret Court docket.
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“I’ve performed a few of my worst tennis ever.”
Djokovic admitted that the hassle and aftermath of profitable Olympic gold in Paris simply 4 weeks in the past impacted his lacklustre New York marketing campaign.
“Clearly it had an impact. I spent loads of power profitable the gold, and I did arrive to New York simply not feeling recent mentally and bodily.
“However as a result of it’s the US Open, I gave it a shot and I attempted my greatest. I didn’t have any bodily points. I simply felt out of gasoline.”
READ: Djokovic seeks twenty fifth Grand Slam title after getting Olympic gold
The most recent crushing setback is available in a yr which noticed Jannik Sinner succeed him as Australian Open champion earlier than Carlos Alcaraz took his French Open crown and swept him off courtroom 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 harm, which required surgical procedure, pressured Djokovic to withdraw from the French Open on the eve of his quarter-final.
His restoration nonetheless wasn’t sturdy sufficient to stop Alcaraz from claiming an eighth Wimbledon.
Friday’s beautiful consequence implies that for the primary time since 2002, not one of the Slams may have been gained 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 yr was profitable Olympic gold in Paris earlier in August.
Olympic gold
Tennis gold medalist Novak Djokovic celebrates throughout a welcoming ceremony on the Belgrade Metropolis Corridor on August 12, 2024. (Photograph by PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC / AFP)
He described that emotion-fueled victory over Alcaraz as his “biggest achievement” as he grew to become simply the sixth participant to finish the Golden Slam of 4 majors and Olympic gold.
That title — the 99th of his profession — could develop into his final defining second within the solar.
If he had been to maintain enjoying 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 recreation of the opening set in opposition to Popyrin, 12 years his junior.
The Australian had no such hassle within the ninth recreation 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 yr 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.
‘Life strikes on’
Nonetheless, Djokovic referred to 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.
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“Life strikes on,” added the Serb. “I’ll try to recalibrate and search for what’s subsequent. Tomorrow is a brand new day.”
