Double Hassle Brought about US Open Upset

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, August 31, 2024
Photograph credit score: Matthew Stockman/Getty

NEW YORK—The service field seemed as large as a shoe field.

Novak Djokovic struggled to seek out the correct match.

More: Jannik Sinner Tests Positive for Banned Steroid

Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin dethroned defending champion Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a surprising US Open upset to advance to his first Grand Slam fourth spherical.

It’s the earliest exit for a US Open defending males’s champion since 2000 and the primary time Djokovic didn’t survive the US Open third spherical since 2006.

Lleyton Hewitt knocked the younger Djokovic out of that 2006 US Open. Australian Davis Cup captain Hewitt was in Popyrin’s assist field tonight alongside the Aussie’s coach, Xavier Malisse, who cut up two profession conferences with the Serbian celebrity.

Afterward, Djokovic mentioned double hassle brought on his demise:

1. Popyrin was just too good from begin to end.

2. Djokovic sabotaged his trigger with the “worst serving” efficiency of his main profession.

Djokovic dumped 14 double faults in opposition to 16 aces and at instances seemed like he had no really feel for the serve.

“Congratulations to him and his group. He positively performed higher and deserved to win right now,” Djokovic mentioned. “I imply, on my finish, truthfully, the way in which I felt and the way in which I performed from the start of this event, third spherical is successful.

“I imply, I’ve performed a few of the worst tennis I’ve ever performed, truthfully, serving by far the worst ever. So, yeah, when you play on a fast floor like this with out, you understand, the serve, with out skill to win free factors there, very low first-serve proportion, many double faults, then you may’t win.

“You possibly can’t win, particularly in opposition to the fellows who’re in type like Alexei who’s serving large, places numerous strain in your service sport. Yeah, it was simply an terrible match for me.”

The four-time US Open champion scored what he known as “arguably the most important success I’ve ever had” when he out-dueled Carlos Alcaraz within the Olympic remaining to seize the gold medal for Serbia in his fifth Olympic Video games final month.

Receiving a hero’s welcome from hundreds of followers in Belgrade after bringing gold again house, Djokovic skipped Masters 1000 occasions in Montreal and Cincinnati to relaxation and recuperate from his passionate Paris efficiency.

Tonight, Djokovic felt disconnected from his pictures and his sport. 

“I attempted so many issues, and typically that is a problem, you understand, is that you simply transfer away from the fundamentals that work,” Djokovic mentioned. “Then you definately simply lose the fundamentals. You lose the muse. You lose the motion, the timing, the rhythm, the tempo, every little thing, whether or not it is a serve or every other shot.

“It was simply actually an enormous battle mentally for me to play these three matches right here, as a result of I wasn’t taking part in even near my finest. So, you understand, it isn’t good to be in that sort of state the place you are feeling okay bodily, and naturally you are motivated as a result of it is a Grand Slam, however you simply should not capable of finding your sport. That is it.

“The sport is falling aside, and I assume you need to settle for that tournaments like this occur. Yeah, you may argue that it is due to the Olympics, however I do not know. I do not need to analyze that proper now.”

Montreal champion Popyrin, who misplaced tight four-setters to Djokovic on the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this 12 months, performed declarative first serve-first strike tennis and steadily punished the champion together with his forehand. 

“Third time fortunate I assume,” Popyrin mentioned. “We had some battles at Australian Open at Wimbledon I had my possibilities in these matches, however didn’t take them.

“This match was just a little totally different. I used to be capable of take my possibilities after I had them and play some good tennis.”

It was a match of one of the best of instances and worst of instances concurrently.

Popyrin performed a few of his finest tennis, Djokovic produced his worst serving efficiency and mentioned he by no means felt fairly proper in Flushing Meadows following his emotional Olympic gold-medal triumph in Paris final month. 

“Simply from the very starting, from the primary match, I simply did not discover myself in any respect on this courtroom,” Djokovic mentioned. “It is all I can say, you understand. You understand, life strikes on. I imply, yeah, simply attempt to recalibrate and search for what’s subsequent.”

Popyrin pulled off a historic upset. Djokovic’s defeat means that is the primary time since 2002 a Large 3 champion—Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer—didn’t win a Grand Slam title.

This upset comes an evening after Botic van de Zandschulp shocked reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz in a surprising Thursday night time upset.

It presents a large alternative for each Popyrin and his fourth-round opponent, former US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe. Should you’re Popyrin you need to really feel when you can beat the Grand Slam king, then you definitely get beat anybody.

“It’s unbelievable as a result of I’ve been within the third spherical about 15 instances in my profession however I haven’t been capable of get previous to the fourth spherical,” Popyrin mentioned. “To have the ability to do it in opposition to the best of all time to get into the fourth spherical is unbelievable. It’s a fantastic feeling.”

Requested to evaluate Popyrin’s potential, Djokovic mentioned whereas world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is obvious US Open favourite, anybody can take the title.

“I imply, look, he is simply overwhelmed me, the defending champion right here, so, I imply, he deserves credit score for that and respect,” Djokovic mentioned. “If he serves properly, performs properly, he can beat anyone. Look, Alcaraz is out, I am out, you understand, some large upsets. The draw is opening up.

“Clearly Sinner is the primary favourite, however then, you understand, Tiafoe is there in addition to American favourite Fritz. Zverev, you have got nice guys taking part in properly, and Rublev, Dimitrov on this a part of the draw. Anyone can take it. It should be fascinating to see who takes the title.”