Novak dropped out of the US Open!

Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the third round of the US Open. The Australian Popirin was better than the defending champion in four sets 6:4, 6:4, 2:6, 6:4. An excellent rival, but also a large number of mistakes and a desperate serve (as many as 14 double faults), made the Olympic champion finish the year without a single Grand Slam title.

The first set was quite strange. It seemed that Djokovic was in control of the events on the court. He easily held his serve at the beginning, and with a 3:2 lead, he had 0:40 on his rival’s serve. He missed three tied break points, then two more.

The fact that he stayed in the set seemed to give wings to Popirin. In the ninth game, he came up with three tied break points out of nowhere. He realized the first for a lead of 5:4, and then won the game again with zero on his serve for a one-set advantage.

Novak was expected to turn things around in the second set, but that didn’t happen. The service functioned poorly, and made a lot of mistakes. A poorly played fifth game cost him a break, and it turned out to be a set. Popirin didn’t shine, but his serve worked well and without much difficulty he reached the big 6:4, 6:4.

Novak’s awakening began in the third set. He easily won the first game on his serve, and then finally got the first break in the match for 2:0. When he went to 3:0, it seemed that the first step towards a turnaround was made.

Popirin did not surrender. In the fifth game, he makes a break and reduces it to 3:2. Fortunately, Đoković immediately retaliated with a rib-break, went 5:2 and then with another game came to 1:2 in sets.

The Serb opened the fourth set very well. He takes his service game easily, and then he had two opportunities to break his opponent. Unfortunately, he did not realize them. That seemed to bring Popirin back into the match.

Two relatively quiet games followed, and then a spectacle in the fifth. It lasted 11 minutes, Novak saved three break points, unfortunately not the fourth and Popirin led 3:2. In the following game, Djokovic had two more chances to take away his rival’s serve, but the Australian played incredibly in those moments and went 4:2.

It threw Djokovic out of rhythm. He lost his serve again and that seemed to be it. However, the Serb did not want to surrender. He had three tied break points in the next game, he didn’t use them, but he did use the fourth to continue his hope. He reduced it to 5:3, and then on his service game came to a game minus.

The Australian again served for the match and won the biggest victory of his career without losing a point.