US Open: Djokovic beaten by Popyrin in the third round, Alcaraz also out

There was another massive upset at the US Open.

One night after No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz was stunned by unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets, No. 2 Novak Djokovic was bounced by No. 28 seed Australian Alexei Popyrin in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Popyrin notches the biggest win of his career, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

“I’ve been in the third roundabout 15 times in my career, but I haven’t been able to get past to the fourth round,” Popyrin said on the court. “And to be able to do it against the greatest of all time to get into the fourth round is unbelievable.”

It’s been a strange year for Djokovic – by his standards, at least – not winning any grand slam titles in 2024. He ends a season without a major title for the first time since 2017.

It’s the first year since 2002 that none of the members of men’s tennis “Big Three” – Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and the now-retired Roger Federer – won a grand slam.

Djokovic, who had 14 double faults and 49 unforced errors, didn’t mince words about his performance.

“On my end, honestly the way I felt, and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, the third round is a success,” Djokovic said. “I’ve played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played, honestly. Serving, by far the worst ever.”

Djokovic will have to wait until 2025 to seek his 25th grand slam singles title – which would be the most across men’s or women’s tennis – with the 37-year-old setting his sights on next year’s Australian Open.

Earlier, Alcaraz suffered a shocking defeat in the second round of the US Open on Thursday, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.

The Dutchman, ranked 74 in the world, downed the 21-year-old Spaniard in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York.

The world No. 3, who in the past two months has won an Olympic silver medal and took home the Wimbledon trophy, struggled out of the gate and was never able to regroup, finishing with 27 unforced errors in total.

Van de Zandschulp closed the match with an ace to secure one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, giving him his first win over a top-10 opponent at a major in his career.