Novak Djokovic crashes out of US Open to Alexei Popyrin

Novak Djokovic adopted Carlos Alcaraz in crashing out of the US Open after Australian Alexei Popyrin pulled off the second main shock in two nights.

Alcaraz was the topic of one of many event’s greatest upsets when he was dumped out by world quantity 76 Botic van De Zandschulp on Thursday evening.

And 24 hours later, defending champion Djokovic joined him in leaving New York early after the twenty eighth seed gained 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4.

Defeat for Djokovic means it’s the first time since 2017 he has not gained a grand slam title and is his earliest exit at a serious because the Australian Open that yr.

It extends the Serbian’s await a record-breaking twenty fifth grand slam title and, at 37, Djokovic’s domination could also be coming to an finish.

He got here into the event at Flushing Meadows realizing he can be up in opposition to it owing to his emotionally draining Olympic win and being with no hard-court match since March.

However even he in all probability didn’t count on to wrestle to the extent he did, with 13 double faults – a profession excessive in a grand slam match – typifying the challenges he confronted.

It’s maybe no shock that every one three gamers who completed on the rostrum in Paris have misplaced early in New York, Alcaraz and bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti additionally heading out.

For Popyrin this was the win of his profession and third time fortunate in opposition to Djokovic, having misplaced on the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

There was additionally a pleasant little bit of symmetry about his victory because it inflicted Djokovic’s earliest US Open defeat since 2007 when he misplaced to Lleyton Hewitt, who was sat in Popyrin’s field.

He meets Frances Tiafoe within the subsequent spherical and everybody left within the males’s draw will now see this as their greatest probability to win a grand slam.

Tiafoe gained an exhilarating all-American battle on Arthur Ashe Courtroom that went on for 4 hours.

Tiafoe, seeded twentieth, beat his good buddy Ben Shelton 4-6 7-5 6-7 (3) 6-4 6-3 to turn into the most recent residence participant to advance.

Tiafoe stated: “I’ve received to say Ben is an unbelievable participant man, he actually is. He goes for all form of photographs, it’s actually annoying.

“We each transfer very well. It’s spotlight after spotlight. 4 hours, it was a battle.”

Eighth seed Casper Ruud got here from two units right down to beat Shang Juncheng, successful 18 of the final 22 video games.