The shocks continued at the 2024 US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York on Friday with the world number two and Olympic gold medallist, Novak Djokovic, crashing out. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic, will sign off the year without the four major titles following a four-set defeat to the world number 28, Alexei Popyrin, of Australia.

The Australian raced to a two-set lead before the Serbian master pulled out back, but it was too little as Popyrin managed to break against him in the fourth. Popyrin goes through to the fourth round with 6-4, 6-4, 2-6 and 6-4 win.

Following his defeat Djokovic said it was some of the worst tennis he has played. “On my end, honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, reaching the third round was a success,” Djokovic said. “I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly, serving by far the worst ever.

Alexei Popyrin just claimed the biggest win of his career! pic.twitter.com/iYcCxnWmfX

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2024

“So, yeah, if you play on a quick surface like this without the serve, without the ability to win free points there, very low first-serve percentage, many double faults, then you can’t win. You can’t win, especially against the guys who are in form like Alexei who is serving big. It puts a lot of pressure on your service game. Yeah, it was just an awful match for me.”

This paves the way for the world number one, Jannik Sinner of Italy, to claim another Grand Slam title this year as he is the only top-three player left in the draw. Earlier in the major, the 2022 winner and back-to-back Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, was knocked out.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg