Defending champion Novak Djokovic’s journey at the US Open came to an unexpected end after a stunning defeat by Australian 28th seed Alexei Popyrin on Friday night. Popyrin secured the victory with a score of 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite Djokovic’s efforts, including a comeback in the third set, Popyrin’s aggressive gameplay and precise execution ultimately led to his victory.
This marked Djokovic’s earliest loss at Flushing Meadows since 2006 and his first time not tasting Grand Slam glory in a season since 2017. The Serbian star had been aiming for a record-extending 25th major title but fell short in the face of Popyrin’s remarkable performance.
In other notable matches at the US Open, Frances Tiafoe emerged victorious in a thrilling all-American clash against Ben Shelton, overcoming the 20th seed with a score of 4-6 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3 in a match lasting over four hours. This hard-fought win sets up Tiafoe for a fourth-round meeting with the impressive Popyrin.
Additionally, Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov secured a commanding victory over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor with a score of 6-3 6-3 6-1, advancing to the fourth round where he will face off against Russian Andrey Rublev. American 12th seed Taylor Fritz also delivered a strong performance, comfortably defeating Argentina’s Franciso Comesana with a score of 6-3 6-4 6-2 to progress to the next round where he is set to meet Casper Ruud.
Notable comebacks were also witnessed at the tournament, with the former finalist and eighth seed making an impressive recovery from two sets down to ultimately emerge victorious over Shang Juncheng with a score of 6-7 (1-7) 3-6 6-0 6-3 6-1, winning 18 of the last 22 games.
Lastly, Brandon Nakashima stunned Italian 18th seed Lorenzo Musetti, showcasing remarkable resilience as he fought back from a 4-0 deficit in the fourth set to claim victory with a score of 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and advance to the fourth round for the first time.
The US Open continues to deliver thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as the tournament progresses.
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