Defending champion Novak Djokovic was eradicated on the 2024 US Open on Friday night time after a 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 third spherical loss to twenty eighth seed Alexei Popyrin.
The Serbian star will finish a season with no main championship title for the primary time since 2017. It’s his earliest departure from the US Open since he misplaced in the identical spherical in 2005 and 2006.
Novak was less than his regular excessive requirements. He served a career-high 14 double faults in a Grand Slam match, and received the purpose solely on 19 of his 40 journeys to the web.
Popyrin broke Djokovic 5 instances from 12 alternatives, whereas the four-time US Open titlist capitalised on 4 of his 16 break level possibilities. The match lasted three hours and 16 minutes.
“Simply an terrible match for me,” Novak mentioned. “I spent a variety of vitality profitable the gold in Paris and I did arrive in New York not feeling contemporary. I attempted my greatest, I didn’t have any bodily points. I simply felt out of fuel, and you may see that. From the primary match I simply didn’t discover myself on this courtroom. Life strikes on. I’ll attempt to recalibrate and stay up for what’s subsequent.”
Match statistics: aces (16-15), double faults (14-6), winners (40-50), unforced errors (49-50), whole factors received (127-130).
Novak will subsequent go on courtroom in a Davis Cup World Group I tie in opposition to Greece in Belgrade, Serbia.
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Photograph: Profimedia