Alexei Popyrin stuns Novak Djokovic on the US Open to safe the most important win of his profession to date, and a maiden fourth-round look at a Grand Slam.
New York, USA, 31 August 2024 | Vivienne Christie
Alexei Popyrin has entered thrilling new territory on the US Open.
With a 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory over world No.2 Novak Djokovic, the Australian not solely claimed a primary accomplished win over a top-five opponent, but additionally progressed to the fourth spherical of a Grand Slam for the primary time in his profession.
“Third time fortunate I suppose,” stated a beaming Popyrin, who suffered four-set losses to Djokovic on the Australian Open and Wimbledon this 12 months.
“We had some battles … I had my possibilities in these matches however didn’t take them. This match was a bit of bit totally different. I used to be capable of take my possibilities once I had them and play some good tennis.”
Popyrin triumphed with the fearless and electrifying tennis that additionally noticed the 25-year-old defeat three top-10 opponents – and a complete 5 within the top-20 – to say his greatest singles title on the current Montreal Masters. He was the primary Australian to elevate an ATP Masters 1000 trophy since Lleyton Hewitt at Indian Wells in 2003.
Hewitt, now Australia’s Davis Cup captain, was proudly watching on at Arthur Ashe Stadium as his youthful countryman took one other large step ahead by finishing victory over Djokovic in an enthralling three hours and 19 minutes.
GIANT SLAYER 😤
Alexei Popyrin eliminates Novak Djokovic from the @usopen with a 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory within the third spherical.#GoAussies pic.twitter.com/hBPKOJJYnT
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) August 31, 2024
Popyrin turned the primary Australian participant to eradicate Djokovic at a Grand Slam since Hewitt had carried out so within the third spherical of US Open 2006. He was additionally the primary participant to defeat the prolific Serbian earlier than the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows since Hewitt’s victory 18 years earlier than.
“To be talked about in the identical identify as Lleyton, one in all our greats, is at all times unbelievable,” stated Popyrin.
“Hopefully I can proceed that pattern and do some extra issues that Lleyton has carried out previously.”
Seeded at a Grand Slam for the primary time by advantage of the career-high No.23 rating that accompanied his Montreal breakthrough, the 28th-seeded Popyrin was authoritative from the outset as he managed each early problem from the skilled Serb.
The largest message was arguably finest delivered as Popyrin navigated six break factors – from 0-40 down – with highly effective serving and composure in rallies within the sixth recreation of the opening set. Showcasing some deft web play that had the New York crowd enraptured, the 28th-seeded Australian stepped it by securing a break in opposition to Djokovic within the ninth recreation.
Popyrin’s one-two punch method was working fantastically as he mixed his highly effective serve along with his potent forehand to calmly serve out the set.
With confidence steadily rising, the 25-year-old quickly prolonged his benefit with an early break of serve within the second set and helped by some dazzling passing pictures, maintained momentum to carry a 6-4 6-4 lead.
Aiming to turn into the primary participant in historical past to say 25 Grand Slam titles – and one in all solely 4 males (alongside Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer) within the Open period to elevate 5 US Open trophies – Djokovic inevitably summoned some preventing spirit.
A 12 months earlier, the then-36-year-old had underlined his place in tennis historical past when he turned the oldest US Open males’s champion within the fashionable period and with Popyrin’s stage dipping ever so barely, Djokovic created the sense of a comeback as he claimed the third set in 43 minutes.
“I used to be ready for him to type of step up. I felt like he did within the third set. However my stage went down. I didn’t make too many first serves,” Popyrin admitted.
However in new territory with a two-sets-to-one lead over the defending champion, the Australian refused to panic. He received 4 straight video games to take a 5-2 lead and whereas he couldn’t serve out the victory the primary time round, he didn’t hesitate on the subsequent alternative.
In essentially the most memorable night time of his profession to date, Popyrin was excellent on function he accomplished his career-best win with one final successful rally.
The largest win of his profession 👏
Take a bow, @AlexeiPopyrin99!@usopen | #USOpenpic.twitter.com/JpipkKhScE
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 31, 2024
“There (are) numerous occasions when he’s come again from two units to like down, and I didn’t need to be a kind of moments the place Novak type of stepped up and got here again from two units to like down. That was going by my head,” he associated.
“It was type of additional motivation for me not to do this and to win that fourth set. Form of needed to pump myself up, swear at myself a number of occasions to type of, yeah, to type of get again into the temper of successful.
“I managed to do this, and that was wonderful.”
Popyrin completed the match with 15 aces amongst 50 whole winners, along with his 50 unforced errors an indication of Popyrin’s willpower to convey his most aggressive tennis to the sport’s greatest levels.
He subsequent faces No.20 seed Frances Tiafoe – a five-set winner over fellow American Ben Shelton – with the right mindset to construct on his career-best efficiency.
“It’s unbelievable as a result of I’ve been within the third spherical about 15 occasions in my profession however I haven’t been capable of get previous to the fourth spherical,.” stated Popyrin, who had the truth is achieved that lead to six of his 21 earlier Grand Slam campaigns.
“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 an amazing feeling.”
Aussies in motion – US Open
RESULTS
Males’s singles, third spherical
[28] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) d [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4
COMING UP
Males’s singles, third spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Dan Evans (GBR)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [30] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) d [1] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
Males’s singles, fourth spherical
[28] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [20] Frances Tiafoe (USA)
> VIEW: US Open 2024 males’s singles draw
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