Taking pictures star Alexei Popyrin has shattered Novak Djokovic’s newest quest for tennis immortality with a hoodoo-busting third-round US Open triumph in New York.
Popyrin sensationally snapped Djokovic’s 18-year grand slam successful streak over Australians with a seismic 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory underneath the brilliant lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night time.
As he was on the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic had as soon as once more been determined to interrupt Margaret Court docket’s all-time report of 24 singles majors with a fifth title at Flushing Meadows.
As an alternative, 25-year-old Popyrin can himself dream massive after sending the ageing world No.2 packing to storm into the final 16 of a slam for the primary time.
Whereas Djokovic was gripped with serving yips, the ice-cool Sydneysider was rock stable on his supply, heading off seven of eight break factors he confronted throughout a tension-marred fourth – and in the end – deciding set.
Djokovic dropped serve 5 occasions and coughed up one other extraordinary 14 double-faults to take his event tally to a stunning 32 in eight-and-a-bit units together with a second-round retirement from fellow Serb Laslo Djere.
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Fittingly, Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt was in Popyrin’s courtside field for the largest win of the previous French Open junior champion’s profession.
Not since Hewitt within the US Open third spherical in 2006, when Djokovic was solely 19, had an Australian conquered the longest-serving world No.1 in tennis historical past.
Since then, Djokovic – who accomplished the so-called golden slam with elusive Olympic Video games glory final month – an had chalked up 15 successive victories over Aussies on the majors, together with exacting revenge in opposition to Hewitt 4 occasions.
The game’s now-undisputed GOAT had additionally taken down Jordan Thompson, Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, John Millman, Carsten Ball, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bernard Tomic twice every.
Djokovic had additionally denied Popyrin in 4 units at each Wimbledon and the Australian Open this yr.
However “not tonight”, Popyrin might have mentioned this time when the pair shook fingers on the web on tennis’s greatest stage as greater than 23,000 followers digested the monumental upset.
Popyrin entered the Open seeded at a slam for the primary time after additionally turning into the primary Australian since Hewitt in 2003 to win an ATP 1000 crown.
However few might have predicted the scientific method wherein the Montreal Masters champ dismantled Djokovic.
In an enormous turning level, Popyrin held serve from 0-40 within the sixth recreation of the opening set earlier than breaking Djokovic at 4-4 and shutting out the set to like.
The gritty underdog shrugged off the frustration of not nabbing one other break within the first recreation of the second set when Djokovic dished out three double-faults.
Popyrin patiently waited for one more likelihood and took it with a scorching forehand move to interrupt for 5-3 after which seize a commanding two-sets-to-love benefit.
Djokovic had battled again from two units down eight earlier occasions in his unparalleled profession and threatened to as soon as extra after taking the third in champion’s type.
However there was no ninth life for this tennis tremendous Novak when Popyrin refused to blink underneath the extraordinary strain and cashed in on 5 double faults from Djokovic in a single decisive recreation.
In a comfort, Djokovic’s subsequent likelihood to surpass Court docket’s grand slam tally will come at Melbourne Park in January on the Australian.
However the 10-time champion might be 4 months shy of 38 by then.
© AAP
