Defending champion Novak Djokovic adopted Carlos Alcaraz out of the US Open in one other seismic shock in New York because the 24-time Grand Slam champion was overwhelmed by Australian twenty eighth seed Alexei Popyrin on Friday evening.
Lower than 24 hours after third seed and 2022 champion Alcaraz crashed out of the match to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, Djokovic was dethroned by 25-year-old Popyrin 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4.
Chasing a record-extending twenty fifth main title, Djokovic was taking part in his first match since profitable the gold medal on the Paris Olympics.
However the Australian, who secured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal earlier this month, outmuscled 37-year-old Djokovic with a fearless model of tennis to seal the most important win of his profession below the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
‘Spherical three a hit’
After his loss Djokovic mentioned he performed among the worst tennis he is ever performed in his life on the US Open.
“Congrats to him and his team,” mentioned the Serbian. “He performed higher and deserved to win. Actually with the best way I felt and performed from the beginning of the match… spherical three is a hit!
“I played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played. Serving by far some of the worst ever. On a quick surface like this, you can’t win without a serve. You can’t win against the guys who are in form like Alexei. It was just an awful match from me.”
Djokovic, who needed to dig deep to win the Olympic gold medal in opposition to Alcaraz earlier this month, didn’t convert 5 break level alternatives within the opening set, whereas Popyrin broke serve on his first likelihood for a 5-4 lead after which grabbed the primary set.
Popyrin broke once more when Djokovic’s forehand volley landed huge for a 3-2 benefit and he quickly took management of the match with a superbly executed serve and volley to seize the second set.
The second-seeded Djokovic confirmed some life within the third to claw his means again into the match.
However the comeback proved short-lived, with Popyrin letting out a mighty roar when he crushed a ferocious forehand winner for a break of serve and 3-2 lead within the fourth.
He accomplished the upset when Djokovic’s forehand sailed lengthy on match level.
The final time Djokovic didn’t style Grand Slam glory in a season was in 2017 as he suffered his earliest loss at Flushing Meadows since 2006.
“Third time lucky [this year] I guess,” Popyrin mentioned. “Honestly, we had some battles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. I had my chances in those matches, but didn’t take them. This match was a little different. I was able to take my chances when I had them and played some good tennis.
“It is unbelievable as a result of I have been within the third spherical about 15 instances in my profession, however I have never been capable of get previous to the fourth spherical.
“To be able to do it against the greatest of all time to get into the fourth round is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling and the hard work has paid off.”
Not since 2002 has a season passed by with no member of the ‘Huge Three’ (Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal) profitable a serious.
Frances Tiafoe overcame Ben Shelton in an exciting all-American conflict, with the twentieth seed twice coming from behind to win in 5 units.
Each gamers have reached the semi-final stage at Flushing Meadows beforehand, with Shelton doing so final 12 months when beating Tiafoe within the final eight.
However Tiafoe gained revenge over the 21-year-old this time spherical, battling again to beat the thirteenth seed 4-6 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3 in a match lasting over 4 hours.
Shelton, who held a 2-0 head-to-head file going into the competition, despatched down 23 aces and 63 winners within the contest, nevertheless it wasn’t to be sufficient, with Tiafoe securing a fourth-round assembly with Popyrin.
Tiafoe: I hope you loved the present
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Shelton hit the quickest serve of the match, clocked at 143mph on set level…
Frances Tiafoe, chatting with Sky Sports activities courtside:
“Ben is an incredible player. He really is. He goes for all kinds of shots, he has no care in the world, and it’s really annoying. He has a great serve and great energy out here.
“He is actually proficient, comes up with nice pictures, and so can I. We each transfer very well and it is simply spotlight after spotlight.
“I hope you enjoyed the show, four hours of this.”
Henman: Tiafoe by no means blinked, deserves win
Sky Sports activities’ Tim Henman:
“Tiafoe deserves all the credit in the world. When he lost that third-set tie-break, you wondered whether his chance was over. But he kept that focus, kept that quality and got back on level terms.
“When he received that decisive break of serve within the fifth set, he by no means blinked. He completely deserves to be by means of to the fourth spherical.”
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Shelton and Tiafoe placed on a present in a dramatic rally, which ended after the latter simply touched the web
What else occurred on the US Open?
Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov carved out a snug 6-3 6-3 6-1 win over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor to arrange a fourth spherical showdown with Russian Andrey Rublev.
American twelfth seed Taylor Fritz comfortably noticed off Argentina’s Franciso Comesana with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win to advance to the fourth spherical the place he’ll meet Casper Ruud.
The former finalist and eighth seed fought again from two units right down to beat Shang Juncheng 6-7 (1-7) 3-6 6-0 6-3 6-1.
Brandon Nakashima got here from 4-0 down within the fourth set to say a shock 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over Italian 18th seed Lorenzo Musetti and attain the fourth spherical for the primary time.
What’s arising on Sky Sports activities Tennis in September?
- Jasmin Open, Tunisia – WTA 250 (9-15 September)
- Guadalajara Open, Mexico – WTA 500 (9-15 September)
- Korea Open – WTA 500 (16 -22 September – with Emma Raducanu in motion)
- Thailand Open – WTA 250 (16 -22 September)
- Chengdu Open, China – ATP 250 (18-24 September)
- Hangzhou Open, China – ATP 250 (18-24 September)
- China Open – WTA 1000 (Sept 25 – Oct 6)
- Japan Open – ATP 500 (Sept 25 – Oct 1)
- China Open – ATP 500 (Sept 26 – Oct 2)
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