Alexei Popyrin Stuns Novak Djokovic at US open

At the US Open on Friday, Alexei Popyrin upset reigning champion Novak Djokovic in four sets to record his greatest victory to date. The 25-year-old Australian advanced to a Grand Slam’s fourth round for the first time in his professional career. Djokovic’s hopes of winning his first major of the year were dashed, and Popyrin admitted he could not believe what he had done over the course of three hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Popyrin emerged victorious in a gripping three hours and eighteen minutes, winning 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Popyrin is astonishingly the first Australian to beat Djokovic at a Grand Slam in eighteen years.

Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin has made steady advancement through the ranks and put on spectacular performances throughout his career. Popyrin was born in Sydney, Australia, on August 5, 1999, to Russian parents. His multi-cultural upbringing is evident in his fluency in three languages: English, Russian, and Spanish. His tennis career started early, and he rose to the top of the junior rankings at an early age, swiftly establishing himself. Winning the 2017 Roland Garros boys’ singles championship, which suggested he had promise on the professional tour, was a significant turning point in his early career.

That moment for Alexei Popyrin 😤 pic.twitter.com/DbAMvn4rGJ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2024

Popyrin’s rise to prominence in his field has been steady. He won his first ATP championship in 2021 at the Singapore Open. Two years later, in 2023, he won his second championship in the Croatia Open after defeating three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the championship match. His winning ways continued in 2024 when he won his third championship at the Masters 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal. Popyrin, who was rated 62 at the time, shocked the tennis world by winning against multiple players ranked in the top 20, including three who were in the top 10. He proved that he could play with the best when he defeated fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the championship match.

The 2024 matchup between Popyrin and Novak Djokovic has grown to be a regular event. With the exception of Roland Garros, the two have played in three Grand Slam events this year, and each meeting has shown Popyrin’s ability to compete with the best player. In their first encounter, which took place at the Australian Open in 2024, Popyrin defeated the 24-time Grand Slam winner in a set and had other opportunities to win more. Even though he ultimately lost the match, his performance demonstrated his potential to challenge the best players in the world.

In their subsequent meeting, which took place at Wimbledon 2024, Popyrin once more showed herself to be a formidable foe of Djokovic. Before the Serb finally won the match in four sets, he won the first set and put up a great fight. But a major turning point in Popyrin’s career came during their third match at the US Open.

“I think it’s my third lucky break. We certainly had some clashes at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, when I had opportunities to win but couldn’t handle it. I was able to take my chances when I got them and I did play some excellent tennis, so this match was a little different,” Popyrin remarked following the victory.