by Entering the 2024 US Open, its two previous champions Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were the betting favorites. Then the tournament lost them both in its first week, in the span of two days, in a sport where titans rarely fall to non-titans.
Djokovic was stunned by No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round on Friday, a day after Alcaraz was kicked out of the tournament by Botic Van de Zandschulp, not seeded. It was the Serbian star’s first elimination from a Grand Slam since the 2017 Australian Open.
These two upsets make top-seeded Jannik Sinner the favorite to win the US Open title, after winning the 2024 Australian Open earlier this year.
This also means that the 2024 US Open will be the first Grand Slam without Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer in the round of 16 since the 2004 French Open, when Djokovic was 17 (per ESPN). This represents a streak of 81 tournaments.
This year will also be the first time since 2002 that no member of the Big 3 will win a Grand Slam.
Alexei Popyrin deserved it against Novak Djokovic
As in the Alcaraz upset, Djokovic had lost a set and a break before really feeling like he was in trouble. Popyrin won a tight first set by steadily storming the net and forcing Djokovic to beat him. Djokovic, who is still playing with non-specific injuries, did not make it.
Djokovic looked even worse in the second set, before finally waking up in the third and breaking Popyrin at his first opportunity. He failed to consolidate this break, but did very well with the next two. Popyrin appeared to get injured late in the second set and made numerous errors in the third that screamed of someone trying to save energy.
There were some funny points though.
If Popyrin kept his energy, it paid off in the fourth set. Tied 2-2, the Australian forced himself to four break points and finally managed to break through on the last one with a magnificent crosscourt winner:
The ensuing celebration was loud enough that Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed in the women’s singles, was still waiting to take the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium after midnight local time, I copied it in the training room.
Djokovic earned a double break point in the next game, but that just gave Popyrin the chance to show his mettle. The following four points: Popyrin forehand winner, Popyrin ace, Popyrin forehand winner, Popyrin ace. Then he broke Djokovic again to end the match.
It was an overall lousy match from Djokovic. While Alcaraz fell because he lacked his striking skills, Djokovic continued to give away points with 14 double faults, his most in a Grand Slam match, and 49 unforced errors. Popyrin had some electric points, but he made enough mistakes himself that a younger – or healthier – Djokovic probably would have made him pay.
Popyrin will face No. 20 Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, which will be the 25-year-old’s first appearance beyond the third round at a Grand Slam in her career. However, it hadn’t come out of nowhere like van de Zandschulp did against Alcaraz. Popyrin won the Canadian Open, an important warm-up event for the US Open, earlier this month and entered New York with as much momentum as he has had in his career.
In Tiafoe, he will have a powerful veteran who survived a five-set, four-hour marathon match against Ben Shelton earlier Friday. But he already has a highlight in his career.
Novak Djokovic’s wait for a 25th Grand Slam continues
Djokovic’s defeat at the US Open means 2024 will be his first year without a Grand Slam victory since 2017. He lost to Sinner at the Australian Open, withdrew from the French Open due to a knee injury and fell to Alcaraz in the final at Wimbledon.
Djokovic was at least able to enjoy his first Olympic gold medal this year in Paris, but at 37, it may be time to ask how many Grand Slams he has left, especially when Alcaraz is only 21 and Sinner 23.
Djokovic will have his next opportunity to win a 25th Grand Slam at the Australian Open next year, as well as a chance to win an unprecedented 11th title in Melbourne. Only Rafael Nadal has more titles in a single Grand Slam (French Open, 14).
