Australian Alexei Popyrin caused a huge upset at the US Open by beating world number two and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.
Popyrin took the upper hand by winning the first two sets, and despite a comeback in the third set by the four-time champion, Popyrin won the final set to take the match 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4.
It is the first time in 20 years that Djokovic has been eliminated before the fourth round of the US Open, having been beaten by another Australian – Lleyton Hewitt – in the process.
After a balanced start to the match, the world number 28 managed to secure a crucial break point and was able to use this momentum to win 6-4 in the first set.
Djokovic took a 2-1 lead in the second set, before the momentum swung back in Popyrin’s favour when he managed to break Djokovic once again to make it 3-2 in the second set.
Popyrin managed to hold off a Djokovic fightback and an ankle injury to win the second set 6-4, putting himself in complete control of the match.
Djokovic made numerous errors in the second set, with four double faults and 14 unforced errors compared to nine for Popyrin.
Djokovic didn’t go down without a fight, managing to earn a break point early in the third set and storming back to win the first three games of the third set.
The two players then traded break points as unforced errors began to creep into Popyrin’s game, his serves beginning to lack the same impact they had earlier in the match.
Djokovic was in his groove in the third set, reopening a three-game lead and sowing a seed of doubt in Popyrin’s mind as the Serb hit a few brilliant shots to stay level; he would eventually win the third set 6-2 as Popyrin committed 18 unforced errors.
The players could not be separated at the start of the fourth set, each winning their own service game as the heat began to take its toll on the players.
In a thrilling fifth game, Popyrin managed to break Djokovic after a mammoth game – with Popyrin executing a fantastic forehand – and he held his serve in the next game to take a two-game lead in the fourth set, with two aces helping him on his way.
The tension began to show for the world number two with four double faults in the sixth game, which allowed Popyrin to earn another break point and put himself on the verge of victory.
Djokovic refused to concede defeat, earning an important break to stay in the match, and managed to hold his serve despite a fierce fight from Popyrin.
The 25-year-old Australian still had the chance to serve for a famous victory, and two aces brought him to match point, which he was then able to win after an overhit from Djokovic.
It was Popyrin’s first win against a top-five ranked player, and it sends him into the fourth round for the first time, setting up a match against American Frances Tiafoe.
