Match Report
Popyrin has Djokovic on the ropes at US Open
Large-hitting Aussie takes a two-sets lead over defending champion
August 31, 2024
AFP/Getty Pictures
Alexei Popyrin clubbed 13 winners within the opening set towards Novak Djokovic.
By ATP Employees
Alexei Popyrin is threatening to ship the second surprising US Open upset in as many nights after taking a two-sets lead over defending champion Novak Djokovic inside Arthur Ashe Stadium Friday night time.
Bringing the identical model of Large-Man Tennis to Arthur Ashe Stadium as he rode to victory to assert his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal earlier this month, the Australian outmuscled Djokovic on serve and from the baseline with a fearless model of tennis that has taken him to a 6-4, 6-4 lead.
Lower than 24 hours in the past third seed and 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz crashed out of the event, crushed in straight units by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Djokovic has rallied from two units down to assert victory eight occasions throughout his profession, most just lately in the identical spherical (and from the identical 4-6, 4-6 scoreline) on the US Open final 12 months towards fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, whom he defeated two days in the past within the second spherical.
Chasing a record-extending twenty fifth main title, the 37-year-old is taking part in his first event since successful the gold medal on the Paris Olympics. Djokovic received three Grand Slam titles final 12 months and reached all 4 finals on the majors. The final 12 months he didn’t style Grand Slam glory in a season was in 2017.