Novak Djokovic loses US Open 1 day after stunning Carlos Alcaraz

Going into the 2024 US Open, the two previous champions Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were the favorites. Then the tournament lost both of them in the first week, in the space of two days, in a sport where titans rarely fall to non-titans.

Djokovic was upset by 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round on Friday, a day after Alcaraz was sent packing by unseeded Botic Van de Zandschulp. It was the first time the Serbian star had been eliminated from a Grand Slam since the 2017 Australian Open.

The two surprises make top favorite Jannik Sinner the favorite to win the US Open title, after he already won the 2024 Australian Open earlier this year.

It also means 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 (according to ESPN). 2024 will also mark the first time since 2002 that no member of the Big 3 wins a Grand Slam.

Alexei Popyrin deserved it against Novak Djokovic

Like Alcaraz’s surprise, Djokovic was a set and a break down before he really felt like he was in trouble. Popyrin won a close first set by routinely storming the net and letting Djokovic win. Djokovic, still playing with some unclear injuries, could not.

Djokovic looked even worse in the second set, before finally waking up in the third, breaking Popyrin on his first chance. He failed to consolidate that break, but did well in the next two. Popyrin seemed to hurt himself late in the second set, and made a lot of errors in the third set that screamed for a person trying to converse with energy.

There were still some nice points though.

If Popyrin was saving energy, it paid off in the fourth set. The game was tied at 2-2, the Australian forced four break points and finally broke through in the final set with a beautiful crosscourt winner:

The ensuing celebration was so loud that second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles, who was still waiting to take the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium after 11 a.m. local time, copied it in the gym.

Djokovic had a double break point in the next game, but that only gave Popyrin the chance to show his mettle. The next four points: Popyrin forehand winner, Popyrin ace, Popyrin forehand winner, Popyrin ace. Then he broke Djokovic again to all but end the match.

It was an ugly match overall from Djokovic. While Alcaraz fell because he lacked his trademark shot, Djokovic continued to give away points with 14 double faults, his highest total ever 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 would likely have made him pay.

Popyrin will face No. 20 Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, marking the first time in his career that the 25-year-old has advanced beyond the third round of a Grand Slam. However, he was not as much of a surprise as van de Zandschulp was over Alcaraz. Popyrin won the Canadian Open, a key US Open training event, earlier this month and entered New York City with as much momentum as he has in his entire career.

In Tiafoe, he gets a powerful veteran who survived a five-set, four-hour marathon match against Ben Shelton earlier on Friday. But he already has a major career highlight.

Novak Djokovic still waiting for 25th Grand Slam

Djokovic’s loss at the US Open makes 2024 his first year without a Grand Slam victory since 2017. He lost to Sinner at the Australian Open, withdrew from the French Open with a knee injury and lost to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.

Djokovic has at least enjoyed his first Olympic gold medal this year, but at 37, it might be time to ask how many more Grand Slams he has in store. Especially since Alcaraz is only 21 and Sinner 23.

Djokovic will get his next chance at a 25th Grand Slam at the Australian Open next year, as well as a shot at an unprecedented 11th title in Melbourne. Only Rafael Nadal has more titles at a single Grand Slam (French Open, 14).