It was a terrible game for me! After Alcaraz, Djokovic quits US Open

Every day is a big surprise. After Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic says goodbye to the US Open. The Serbian tennis player was very critical of his performance after the match. Which favourites are enjoying their progress?

• The third round of the US Open has become the final stop for the two big favourites
• After Alcaraz, Djokovic also dropped out
• The Serb said he played one of the worst matches of his career

A day earlier, the previous year’s champion said goodbye to the US major. On Friday, he lost last year’s. After Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic also says goodbye in the third round of the US Open.

The Olympic champion fell to Australian Popyrin. He lost the opening two sets 6:4 to his well-served opponent.

Although he has been able to call for a big turnaround in a similar situation many times, he couldn’t find the strength today. After winning the third set, Djokovic fell again 6:4 in the fourth set.

Djokovic and his self-criticism

Popyrin, according to the Serb, deserved to advance. However, the main cause of the defeat was Djokovic himself.

In his own words, he played one of the worst matches of his career. “I served clearly the worst,” Djokovic said of his game.

The statistics bear out his criticism. The native of Belgrade sent less than sixty percent of his first serves into his opponent’s court, and topped off the debacle with fourteen double faults.

“You can’t win like that, especially against players who are in form like Alexei, who is serving great,” Djokovic elaborated on the reasons for his demise at this year’s US Open.

He can hardly remember being eliminated so early in New York. The last time Djokovic crashed out in the third round of the US Open was in 2006.

Other favourites

On the other hand, among the big names, Norway’s Ruud, Bulgaria’s Dimitrov and Russia’s Rubljov have secured their place in the eighth round. The latter player did not give Jiri Lehecek a chance.

In the highly anticipated derby he defeated Tiafoe Shelton. He will be Popyrin’s next opponent.

Now the number one seed Jannik Sinner is waiting for the battle for the top 16. At the same stage is Daniil Medvedev.

Two other Czechs are also waiting for their third round matches. Machac will challenge Belgium’s Goffin, with whom he showed the turnaround of the year at Wimbledon. Mensik will play Portugal’s Borges.

Source: ATP, US Open