Djokovic Stunned by Popyrin at US Open

In a stunning turn of events at the US Open, Novak Djokovic, the Olympic gold medalist and defending champion, faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of 28th-ranked Alexei Popyrin. This match marked Djokovic's earliest exit from the US Open in 18 years, as he was knocked out in the third round with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The loss is particularly significant as it also represents Djokovic's earliest Grand Slam exit since 2017, a year when he did not secure any major titles.

Djokovic, who had previously triumphed over Popyrin in their three prior encounters, including matches at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, struggled throughout the match. He committed a staggering 14 double faults and a total of 49 unforced errors, which proved too much for him to overcome. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic stated, "It was just an awful match for me. I mean, I tried so many things, and sometimes that’s an issue … you move away from the basics that work. You lose the foundation. You lose the movement, the timing, the rhythm, the tempo, everything, whether it’s a serve or any other shot."

Popyrin, who recently claimed the biggest title of his career at the Montreal Masters, displayed remarkable resilience. He saved five break points in the sixth game of the match and took the first two sets with confidence. Although Djokovic managed to break back in the third set, Popyrin's determination shone through in the fourth set, where he saved multiple break points and ultimately sealed the match with a powerful forehand winner.

Following this victory, Popyrin is set to face Frances Tiafoe, who also had a thrilling match against fellow American Ben Shelton, winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3. Tiafoe's performance was commendable, as he withstood 23 aces from Shelton and converted five out of 21 break points.

In other matches, defending women’s champion Coco Gauff overcame a challenging encounter with Elina Svitolina, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Gauff's next opponent will be Emma Navarro, who previously upset her in the fourth round at Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the second-seeded Australian Open champion, had a late start but managed to secure a victory against Ekaterina Alexandrova.

This year's US Open has been filled with surprises and unexpected outcomes, reminding fans that in sports, anything can happen. Djokovic's early exit serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of tennis, where even the greatest champions can face challenges. As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see how the remaining players perform and whether new stars will emerge on the grand stage.