With Djokovic and Alcaraz each out, who will win the US Open males's title?

NEW YORK — One other day, another stunning upset at the US Open.

Simply 24 hours after Carlos Alcaraz was handed his earliest exit on the match, defending champion and No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic misplaced to No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, within the third spherical on the identical court docket.

Taking part in within the prime-time evening match Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, few thought the 25-year-old Australian had an opportunity in opposition to Djokovic, who was on a quest to make historical past with a record-breaking twenty fifth main title, and had simply gained Olympic gold in Paris. They’d met twice in majors this season — on the Australian Open and Wimbledon — and Popyrin had been unable to win in both match.

However Friday was totally different.

Maybe nonetheless using the momentum from successful his first Masters 1000-level title on the Canadian Open earlier this month, and buoyed by his 50 winners on the evening and Djokovic’s poor serving, Popyrin performed the perfect match of his profession.

“It is unbelievable as a result of I have been within the third spherical about 15 occasions and I have never been capable of get to the fourth,” Popyrin stated on the court docket after the match. “To have the ability to do it in opposition to the best of all time is unbelievable. It is an incredible feeling and the onerous work paid off.”

Djokovic, who had knee surgical procedure in June, later referred to as his efficiency “terrible” and stated it was “a number of the worst tennis” he had ever performed. The 37-year-old admitted he felt drained after an intense summer season schedule, which noticed a number of floor adjustments.

“I spent a number of power successful the gold, and I did arrive to New York simply not feeling contemporary mentally and bodily,” Djokovic stated. “However as a result of it is the US Open, you realize, I gave it a shot and I attempted my greatest. I imply, I did not have any bodily points. I simply felt out of fuel, you realize, and you might see that with the way in which I performed.”

Djokovic formally concluded his Slam season with no title for the primary time since 2017. It is the primary season a member of the Large Three (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer) did not win a significant trophy since 2002.

And the match is now the one Slam to not have the lads’s No. 2 or 3 seed within the spherical of 16 in additional than 22 years.

Evidently, it has been a stunning first week in Queens and, with two of the favorites now eradicated, the lads’s title may be very a lot up for grabs. So, who has the strongest probability to hoist the trophy as we head into Day 6? Given the way in which this match has began, predictions might be very difficult, however we’ll nonetheless strive. (And sure, we acknowledge the gamers within the prime half of the draw have but to play their third-round matches.)

Up subsequent: Third spherical vs. Christopher O’Connell (Saturday)

The world No. 1 was thought-about a pre-tournament favourite alongside Alcaraz and Djokovic, however the announcement of his two positive tests for a banned substance in March resulted in heavy scrutiny and it was unclear how he would fare contemplating the circumstances. Sinner, 23, dropped the primary set of his opening-round match in opposition to Mackenzie McDonald however has in any other case cruised into the third spherical and his play has been largely unaffected by the off-court chatter.

Sinner has by no means superior previous the quarterfinals in New York however is the present Australian Open champion and took house the title in Cincinnati earlier this month in his remaining lead-in occasion. He is among the finest at the moment on the onerous court docket and able to beating anybody left within the draw.

Up subsequent: Third spherical vs. No. 31 Flavio Cobolli (Saturday)

The one remaining US Open champion left within the draw, the 2021 winner arrived to the match slightly below the radar after lackluster outcomes at each Montreal and Cincinnati and having not gained a title all season. Nonetheless, the fan favourite has dropped only one set en path to the third spherical and will get previous Cobolli of their first profession assembly. Nuno Borges or Jakub Mensik would await within the spherical of 16.

Medvedev, 28, in all probability would face Sinner within the quarterfinals and it is onerous to assume anybody has a greater probability to defeat the World No. 1 than Medvedev. A 3-time US Open finalist, he actually has expertise on his aspect and prospers underneath the lights on Ashe in entrance of a rowdy crowd.

The winner of that presumed match would instantly develop into the favourite.

Up subsequent: Fourth spherical vs. No. 28 Alexei Popyrin (Sunday)

As you have in all probability heard numerous occasions, no American man has gained a significant title because the US Open in 2003. However did you see what Tiafoe did in opposition to Ben Shelton, his fellow countryman, on Friday within the third spherical? Needing five sets and over four hours, Tiafoe dug deep and located a solution for Shelton’s highly effective serve. By the match’s finish, the 26-year-old had develop into the primary American man since Andre Agassi (2001-2005) to succeed in the spherical of 16 on the match in 5 consecutive seasons.

An electrifying showman who thrives in entrance of the largest crowds and on the largest levels, Tiafoe is as beloved a participant in New York as there’s and may have the followers firmly behind him in each match he performs. He has made it clear the US Open is his prime precedence — even skipping the Olympics this summer season to greatest put together for the floor. He made the ultimate in Cincinnati, and reached the US Open semifinals in 2022. With Djokovic now out of the way in which, Tiafoe’s path to the quarters — and past — turned considerably simpler and there is maybe nobody who needs this extra. When requested if an American man may finish the drought on the match, he referred to as it a “type of a ‘Why not?’ factor.” So why not Tiafoe?

Up subsequent: Fourth spherical vs. No. 8 Casper Ruud (Sunday)

Let’s begin with the plain: Ruud, a 2022 US Open finalist, won’t be a straightforward opponent and that match may actually go both approach. However, like Tiafoe, Fritz may have the help of the house crowd and the additional motivation of wanting to finish the winless main streak — one thing he had beforehand stated fueled him.

And to not point out, he has had an unimaginable season and powerful displaying in the course of the first week. He has reached the spherical of 16 at each main this yr — changing into the primary American since Agassi to take action in a single season — and gained two titles in 2024, along with claiming Olympic bronze in doubles. Fritz, 26, hasn’t misplaced a set in three matches and had a very spectacular second-round win over former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. He has reached 4 main quarterfinals in his profession, together with on the 2023 US Open, however has by no means superior past the spherical. To cite Tiafoe, who Fritz may probably play within the semis, “Why not?”

Up subsequent: Fourth spherical vs. No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov (Sunday)

There have been a variety of males up for consideration for this final spot, together with Popyrin, Ruud, Dimitrov, and American Tommy Paul, however in the end Rublev was the selection. After a considerably baffling season, the 26-year-old lastly appears again on monitor and has been enjoying some high-quality tennis on the floor this summer season. He superior to the ultimate at Montreal and the quarterfinals at Cincinnati, and has discovered methods to win in New York regardless of some struggles.

Although he gained his opener and third-round matches in straight units, he fell right into a two-set deficit within the second spherical in opposition to Arthur Rinderknech. However Rublev fought again and clawed his approach to victory. It was simply the second win of his profession from two-sets-to-love down, and first in almost 4 years. A ten-time main quarterfinalist, together with 4 occasions on the US Open, Rublev has by no means managed to flee the ultimate eight.

If he can get previous a resurgent Dimitrov on Sunday, the winner of Tiafoe-Popyrin awaits. It appears doubtless he’ll sooner or later discover a approach to advance to the semifinals (or past) and maybe he may acknowledge this as his greatest probability but and capitalize on the chance.