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Alexei Popyrin kicks Novak Djokovic out of US Open as tennis world stunned by 18-year first

The 25-year-old Aussie emulated Lleyton Hewitt with a stunning takedown of the World No.2.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·6-min read

Alexei Popyrin has stunned the tennis world at the US Open after handing Novak Djokovic his earliest exit from the New York grand slam since 2006. The Aussie young gun left the World No.2 shell-shocked as he produced some incredible hitting in a 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 boilover on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It makes Popyrin the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt 18 years ago to beat the great Djokovic at grand slam level. Hewitt's win over Djokovic in the third round in 2006 marked the Serb's earliest exit from the US Open until Friday night's loss to Popyrin (Saturday Australian time).

Alexei Popyrin and Novak Djokovic.
Alexei Popyrin stunned Novak Djokovic at the US Open for the biggest win of his career. Image: Getty

The World No.28, who has been in career-best form over the last few months, fired off 13 winners to claim the opening set 6-4 against the 24-time grand slam champion. He then broke Djokovic again at 3-2 in the second, before holding his nerve to serve out the set 6-4 for a 2-0 lead in the blockbuster clash.

Djokovic kicked into gear to claim the third set, before Popyrin found another level in the fourth. The Aussie grabbed another break at 2-2 before some unreal hitting saw him surge to a 5-2 lead. The 25-year-old dropped his serve on his first attempt to seal the match, but wouldn't be denied the biggest victory of his career on the second time of asking.

Commentators described Popyrin's play as "unreal" and "off the charts" as he left the World No.2 shell-shocked on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 25-year-old recently won his first-career Masters 1000 title in Canada, and knew he had what it takes to beat Djokovic.

Popyrin had some recent near-misses against the super Serb, having lost in four sets twice this year already at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. "Third time lucky, I guess," the Aussie said on court after the match. "Honestly, we had some battles at Australian Open and at Wimbledon.

"I had my chances of getting in those matches but didn't take them. This match I was able to take my chances when I got him and play some good tennis. It's unbelievable because I've been in the third round about 15 times but I haven't been able to get past to the fourth round in my career. And to be able to do it against the greatest of all time, to get in to the fourth round is unbelievable."

Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin, pictured here after their match at the US Open.
Novak Djokovic congratulates Alexei Popyrin after their match at the US Open. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The loss also denies Djokovic the chance to go past Margaret Court with a 25th career grand slam title. It marks the first grand slam since the French Open in 2004 that none of Djokovic, Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer are in the Round of 16.

Tennis fans and commentators were left gobsmacked by Popyrin's display, but many also questioned whether Djokovic was 100 per cent fit. With Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Chris O'Connell also advancing, Popyrin had earlier helped give Australia four men in the third round of the US Open for the first time in 27 years.

Popyrin will now play Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round after the American earlier weathered a huge storm in the shape of Ben Shelton in a captivating all-US blockbuster. Tiafoe won 4-6 7-5 6-7 (7-5) 6-4 6-3 to move into the last-16 of the US Open for the fifth-consecutive year, where he will now face Popyrin.

Tiafoe was eliminated by Shelton in four sets in the quarter-finals of the 2023 event. And the year before he defeated Nadal on the way to the semi-finals - the best grand slam showing of his career.

Frances Tiafoe, pictured here after beating Ben Shelton at the US Open.
Frances Tiafoe celebrates after beating Ben Shelton at the US Open. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

After getting past Shelton in a match that lasted four hours, three minutes, Tiafoe spread his arms wide and looked around at the thousands cheering in Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I've got to say, Ben's an incredible player, man. He's an incredible player. He really is," Tiafoe told spectators during a post-match interview.

"He goes for all kind of shots. He's got no care in the world. It's really annoying. ... He's really talented. He can come up with great shots. So can I. It's highlight after highlight. I hope you guys enjoyed the show."

American No.12 seed Taylor Fritz also moved on with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win against Francisco Comesana of Argentina. Other third-round winners on Friday included No.9 Gregor Dimitrov, who beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-3 6-3 6-1, and No.6 Andrey Rublev, who defeated Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3 7-5 6-4.

with agencies