Novak Djokovic suffers earliest US Open exit since 2006 in loss to Alexei Popyrin

Novak Djokovic made his earliest exit from the US Open in 18 years when he was beaten in four sets by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round on Friday.

Playing on the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time in his career, Popyrin stunned Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in three hours and 19 minutes to cause another upset at Flushing Meadows.

Chasing a record-extending 25th major title and 100th career title, the 37-year-old Djokovic closes the year without a major title to his name. The last time Djokovic didn’t win a single Grand Slam in a year was 2017 when a persistent elbow injury cut his season short.

It is also the first season since 2002 when a member of the Big Three (Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal) didn’t win a major.

In contrast to Popyrin’s 50 winners, Djokovic produced his own down-fall with a career-high 14 double faults in a Grand Slam match, including four to hand Popyrin a 5-2 lead in the fourth set.

In his quest to close the match out, Popyrin was broken but had enough gap to close the match out two games later.

Fittingly for Popyrin, in attendance for his big win was Lleyton Hewitt, the last Australian to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam event.

“Third time lucky [this year] I guess,” Popyrin said. “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’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times in my career, but I haven’t been able to get past to the fourth round,” Popyrin said. “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.”

The shocker of a result comes a night after Carlos Alcaraz was sent packing from New York by Botic van de Zandschulp.

Djokovic came into the match 3-0 against Popyrin, including four-set victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.

But Popyrin was riding the high of his biggest win at the Montreal Masters this month.

Popyrin will now face home favourite Frances Tiafoe in his first fourth-round appearance at the US Open. Tiafoe beat compatriot and last year’s semi-finalist Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in a marathon match on Arthur Ashe earlier in the day.