Alexei Popyrin has stunned the world number 2, who will end the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic suffered a major upset at the US Open, losing to Alexei Popyrin to end the Serb's bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Australian Popyrin defeated Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round at Flushing Meadows on Friday.
“I spent a lot of energy to win gold and I came to New York not feeling fresh mentally and physically,” Djokovic told reporters. He won the men's singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.
Popyrin, who lost to Djokovic at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, raised his arms in triumph as he reached the last 16 of a major tournament for the first time.
“I guess third time's the charm,” Popyrin said in an on-court interview.
The 37-year-old Djokovic was unusually sloppy, hitting 14 double faults (a record for him in a Grand Slam match) while his 25-year-old opponent hit 50 winners.
The world No. 2 had five break chances in the opening set but failed to convert any of them, while Popyrin broke on his first opportunity to take a 5-4 lead and win the opening set.
Popyrin broke again in the second when Djokovic's volley went wide for a 3-2 lead and he took control of the match with a perfectly executed serve and volley to take the second set.
Djokovic showed some life in the third, but the comeback was short-lived as Popyrin crushed a fierce forehand winner to break serve and take a 3-2 lead in the fourth.
“I played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played in my life, honestly,” Djokovic said. “My serve was by far the worst.”
His defeat came after the shocking exit of 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz came into the US Open as the tournament favorite after winning the French Open and Wimbledon, but was eliminated by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday.
It is only the third time in the Open era that two of the top three men's seeds at the US Open have fallen before the fourth round; the other such instances occurred in 1973 and 2000.
“It was a terrible match for me,” Djokovic said. “I was not playing anywhere near my best. It's not good to be in that state where you feel good physically and of course you're motivated because it's a Grand Slam, but you're just not able to find your game.
“That’s it. The game is falling apart and I guess you have to accept that tournaments like this happen.”
Djokovic was attempting to become the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam singles titles. However, following knee surgery in June, he ends a year without winning at least one major championship for the first time since 2017.
Djokovic has reached the US Open final 10 times, winning in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
Popyrin will now try to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by overcoming Frances Tiafoe, who advanced Friday with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ben Shelton in a matchup between two Americans.
“If he serves well and plays well, he can beat anyone,” Djokovic said of Popyrin. “Alcaraz is out. I am out. There are big surprises. The draw is opening up.”
