Defending champion Novak Djokovic exited the tournament in the third round, marking his earliest departure from the event in 18 years. The 37-year-old tennis icon, who has long been a dominant force in the sport, admitted that he played “his worst tennis ever” during his loss to 28th-ranked Australian Alexei Popyrin. The defeat not only dashed Djokovic’s hopes of securing a record 25th Grand Slam title but also raised further questions about his long-term future in professional tennis.
Djokovic’s 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Popyrin was a far cry from the level of play that has earned him four US Open titles in the past. His performance was marred by 14 double faults and 49 unforced errors, statistics that are uncharacteristic of the Serbian star. The loss also means that for the first time since 2017, Djokovic will end the season without a Grand Slam title—a stark contrast to the consistency he has shown throughout his career.
“The way I played from the beginning of the tournament reaching the third round is a success,” a despondent Djokovic said after the match. “I have played some of my worst tennis ever.” His candid admission highlights the struggles he has faced this year, a year that has seen him lose his Australian Open title to Jannik Sinner, his French Open crown to Carlos Alcaraz, and now suffer his earliest US Open exit since 2006.
Djokovic’s disappointing performance at the US Open comes just four weeks after he won Olympic gold in Paris, an achievement he described as his “greatest” and one that required an immense amount of physical and mental energy. However, the aftermath of that triumph seems to have taken a toll on his US Open campaign. “Obviously it had an effect. I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive in New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically,” Djokovic admitted. “But because it’s the US Open, I gave it a shot and I tried my best. I didn’t have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas.”
This year’s struggles are part of a larger trend for Djokovic, who has seen his dominance in tennis challenged by a new generation of players. Sinner succeeded him as Australian Open champion, and Alcaraz not only took his French Open crown but also dethroned him at Wimbledon. Sinner also took Djokovic’s world number one ranking, a position he had held for a record 428 weeks. A knee injury that required surgery forced Djokovic to withdraw from the French Open on the eve of his quarter-final, further complicating his year.
Friday’s loss to Popyrin also marked a historic moment in tennis. For the first time since 2002, none of the Grand Slam titles have been won by members of the ‘Big Three’—Djokovic, the absent Rafael Nadal, or the retired Roger Federer. The Serb’s exit was another blow to the US Open, which had already seen a major upset when Alcaraz was knocked out in the second round.
Popyrin, who had lost to Djokovic at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, was elated with his victory. “I played some good tennis,” Popyrin said after the match, acknowledging the significance of his win. “To be in the fourth round of a Grand Slam by beating the greatest of all time is unbelievable.”
Despite the defeat, Djokovic remains optimistic about the future. “Life moves on,” he said. “I’ll try and recalibrate and look for what’s next. Tomorrow is a new day.” However, with his 38th birthday approaching and a year of disappointments behind him, questions linger about how much longer Djokovic can continue to compete at the highest level and whether his illustrious career is nearing its end.
