Novak Djokovic’s shock defeat at US Open ends stunning 22-year Grand Slam record
Novak Djokovic is out of the US Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion crashed out of the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year on Friday night, suffering a 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 defeat to Australian 28th seed Alexei Popyrin.
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It is the Serbian legend's earliest US Open exit in 18 years, and means he will end the year without winning a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017.
It's also his earliest defeat in New York since 2006.
It also marks the end of the Big Three's dominance at the major championships.
It is the first time since 2002 in which none of the Big Three of men’s tennis -- Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer -- have won a Grand Slam tournament in a calendar year.
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In 2002, Swedish star Thomas Johansson won the Australian Open, Spaniard Albert Costa won the French Open, Australian Lleyton Hewitt won Wimbledon, and American icon Pete Sampras won the US Open.
A year later, Federer won Wimbledon to kick start the Big Era of men's tennis at the Slams, which came to an end on Friday.
This is also the first major since the 2004 French Open without Djokovic, Nadal or Federer in the Round of 16
37-year-old Djokovic came frustratingly short once again of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title, this time at the hands of 25-year-old Popyrin.
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Djokovic, who has reached the final at Flushing Meadows ten times, winning the title in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023, hit an uncharacteristic 14 double faults and committed 49 unforced errors in the defeat.
Popyrin secured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal earlier this month against Djokovic, and was by far the better player inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.
After the defeat, Djokovic said he played some of the worst tennis he's ever played at the US Open.
"Congrats to him and his team," said the Serbian. "He played better and deserved to win. Honestly with the way I felt and played from the start of the tournament… round three is a success!
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"I played some of the worst tennis I've ever played. Serving by far some of the worst ever. On a quick surface like this, you can't win without a serve. You can't win against the guys who are in form like Alexei. It was just an awful match from me."
A knee injury, which required surgery, forced Djokovic to withdraw from the French Open earlier this year on the eve of his quarter-final.
He was able to come back and win Olympic gold in Paris -- something he labelled as his "biggest sporting achievement" -- but admitted that triumph may have drained him.
"I tried my best, I didn't have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas, and you could see that. From the first match, I just didn't find myself on this court." Djokovic added.
"Life moves on. I'll try to recalibrate and look forward to what's next."
His exit is a big blow to the US Open after French Open and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz was shocked in the second round on Thursday.
The Spanish superstar lost to unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, blowing the tournament wide open.
After beating Djokovic, Popryin will march into the fourth round where he will face American Frances Tiafoe.
Tiafoe came from behind twice in the previous round to overcome compatriot Ben Shelton in a five-set thriller.
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