Novak Djokovic, ‘out of gas,’ upset at U.S. Open by Alexei Popyrin

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title came to a very early end at the U.S. Open.

Australian Alexei Popyrin, the world’s 28th-ranked player, ousted Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round.

Djokovic called his play “awful.” His 14 double faults were his most in a tour-level match, according to Tennis Abstract.

“He definitely played better and deserved to win today,” Djokovic said. “The way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, third round is a success. I mean, I’ve played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played, honestly, serving by far the worst ever.”

U.S. OPEN DRAWS: Women | Men | Order of Play

Djokovic said the turnaround from the Paris Olympics, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Aug. 4 final at Roland Garros for his first gold medal, had an effect.

“I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive in New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically, but because it’s U.S. Open, I gave it a shot and I tried my best,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas, and you could see that with the way I played just from the very beginning, from the first match. I just didn’t find myself at all on this court. It’s all I can say. Life moves on.”

It’s Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam defeat since the 2017 Australian Open. He also goes a calendar year without winning a Slam for just the second time in the last 14 years, joining 2017. None of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer will win a Slam in a year for the first time since 2002.

Djokovic made at least the fourth round of his previous 26 Slams, lifting the championship trophy at 12 of them.

Popyrin is the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic at a Slam since 72nd-ranked Italian Marco Cecchinato in the 2018 French Open quarterfinals.

Popyrin, 25, is at a career-high ranking after earning the biggest title of his career at the Canadian Open in early August. He also took a set off Djokovic in losses this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

“Third time lucky, I guess,” Popyrin said in an-court interview. “I had my chances in those matches but didn’t take them.”

Popyrin reached the fourth round of a Slam for the first time in his 23rd start. He faces American Frances Tiafoe on Sunday for a place in the quarterfinals in the bottom half of the draw.

Two men still alive in the draw have won a Slam: Italian Jannik Sinner and Russian Daniil Medvedev, both of whom are in the top half.

Djokovic’s bid to break his tie with Margaret Court for the most singles Slams (combining the pre-professional and professional eras) next moves to the Australian Open in January.

Djokovic’s 10 Australian Open titles are the most in the professional era. At 37, he is older than any man or woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the pro era.