Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title ended abruptly on Friday when he was defeated by 25-year-old Alexei Popyrin in the US Open third round.
Popyrin, ranked 28th, secured a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory, marking Djokovic’s earliest exit from the tournament in 18 years and his first early Grand Slam loss since 2017. Despite winning Olympic gold this year, Djokovic struggled in the majors, and his inconsistent season culminated in this surprising defeat.
Djokovic, who had previously beaten Popyrin three times this year, faltered with 14 double faults and 49 unforced errors. Popyrin capitalized on these mistakes, delivering a fearless performance that saw him win the first two sets.
Although Djokovic briefly rallied in the third set, Popyrin maintained his composure in the fourth, ultimately breaking Djokovic twice and sealing the match.
Popyrin, fresh off his biggest career title at the Montreal Masters, celebrated his victory as a significant milestone, expressing disbelief at beating one of the sport’s greatest players.
