By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, August 31, 2024
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty
NEW YORK – The service box looked like laundryge like a shoe box.
Novak Djokovic struggled to find the right fit.
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Champion of Montreal Alexei Popyrin dethroned defending champion Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a stunning US Open upset to reach the first round of his fourth Grand Slam.
It is the earliest exit for a defending US Open men’s champion since 2000 and the first time Djokovic has failed to survive the third round of the US Open since 2006.
Lleyton Hewitt knocked the young Djokovic out of that 2006 US Open. Australian Davis Cup captain Hewitt was in Popyrin’s support box tonight along with Aussie coach Xavier Malisse, who shared two career meetings with the Serbian superstar.
Afterwards, Djokovic said that double trouble caused his demise:
1. Popyrin was just too good from start to finish.
2. Djokovic sabotaged his cause with the “worst” performance of his long career.
Djokovic threw 14 double faults against 16 aces and at times looked like he had no feel for his serve.
“Congratulations to him and his team. He definitely played better and deserved to win today,” Djokovic said. “I mean, at the end of the day, honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the start of this tournament, the third round is a success.
“I mean, I’ve played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played, honestly, serving a lot worse than ever. So, yeah, if you play on a fast surface like this without, you know, serving, without skill to win free points there, very low first serve percentage, too many double faults, then you can’t win.
“You can’t win, especially against guys who are in shape like Alexei who is serving a lot, putting a lot of pressure on your service game. Yeah, it was just a terrible match for me.”
The four-time US Open champion scored what he called “the biggest success I’ve ever had” when he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Olympic final to capture gold for Serbia in its fifth Olympic Games last month.
Receiving a hero’s welcome from thousands of fans in Belgrade after bringing home the gold, Djokovic skipped the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati to rest and recover from his passionate performance in Paris.
Tonight, Djokovic felt disconnected from his shots and his game.
“I’ve tried so many things, and sometimes that’s an issue, you know, is you get away from the basics that work,” Djokovic said. “Then you just miss the basics. Lose the base. Lose the drive, the timing, the rhythm, the tempo, everything, whether it’s a serve or any other shot.
“It was really a big struggle mentally for me to play these three games here because I wasn’t playing anywhere near my best. So, you know, it’s not good to be in that kind of state where you feel good physically. , and of course you’re motivated because it’s a Grand Slam, but you just can’t find your game.
“The game is breaking down and I think you have to accept that tournaments like this happen. Yes, you can argue that it’s because of the Olympics, but I don’t know. I don’t want to analyze that right now.”
Montreal champion Popyrin, who lost in four sets to Djokovic at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, played declarative tennis on the first serve and often punished the champion with his forehand.
“Third time lucky I guess,” said Popyrin. “We had some struggles at the Australian Open in Wimbledon, I had my chances in those matches but I didn’t take them.
“This match was a little different. I was able to take my chances when I had them and play some good tennis.”
It was a match of the best and worst of times.
Popyrin played some of his best tennis, Djokovic produced his worst serve performance and said he never felt good at Flushing Meadows after his emotional Olympic gold medal triumph in Paris last month.
“From the beginning, from the first match, I just didn’t find myself on this court at all,” said Djokovic. “It’s all I can say, you know. You know, life goes on. I mean, yeah, you just try and recalibrate and look for what happens next.”
Popyrin caused a historical disturbance. Djokovic’s loss means it’s the first time since 2002 that a Big 3 champion—Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer—failed to win a Grand Slam title.
The upset comes a night after Botic van de Zandschulp upset Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz in a stunning upset on Thursday night.
It presents a huge opportunity for both Popyr and his fourth-round opponent, former US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe. If you are Popyrin, you must feel if you can beat the king of the Grand Slam, then you can beat anyone.
“It’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times in my career, but I haven’t been able to get past the fourth round,” Popyrin said. “To be able to do it against the best of all time to get to the fourth round is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling.”
Asked to assess Popyrin’s potential, Djokovic said that while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is the clear US Open favorite, anyone can take the title.
“I mean, look, he just beat me, the defending champion here, so, I mean, he deserves credit for that and respect,” Djokovic said. “If he serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody. Look, Alcaraz is out, I’m out, you know, some big upsets. The draw is opening.
“Obviously, Sinner is the main favorite, but then, you know, Tiafoe is there, as well as American favorite Fritz. Zverev, you’ve got great guys playing well, and Rublev, Dimitrov in this part of the draw. Anyone can take it. It will be interesting to see who takes the title.”
