Star player Alexei Popyrin has thwarted Novak Djokovic’s latest attempt at tennis immortality with a stunning victory in the third round of the US Open in New York.
Popyrin sensationally snapped Djokovic’s 18-year Grand Slam winning streak against the Australians with a dramatic 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory at the fierce Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.
At the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic was looking to once again break Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles with a fifth title at Flushing Meadows.
Instead, the 25-year-old Popyrin can dream big himself after sending the ageing world No. 2 into the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.
While Djokovic struggled to hit the ball from his serves, the ice-cold Sydneysider was rock solid in his throws, fending off seven of eight break points during a thrilling fourth and ultimately deciding set.
Djokovic lost his serve five times and also made 14 double faults, bringing his tournament total to an astonishing 32 in sets of eight and a bit. His compatriot Laslo Djere also retired in the second round.
It is therefore no surprise that Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt stood in Popyrin’s penalty area for the biggest victory in the former Roland Garros junior champion’s career.
No Australian had defeated the longest-reigning world No. 1 in tennis history since Hewitt in the third round of the 2006 US Open, when Djokovic was just 19.
Since then, Djokovic, who last month won the so-called golden slam with elusive Olympic glory, has claimed 15 straight major victories over the Aussies, including four times revenge over Hewitt.
The now undisputed winner of the sport, the GOAT, had previously defeated Jordan Thompson, Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, John Millman, Carsten Ball and Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bernard Tomic.
Djokovic also defeated Popyrin in four sets at Wimbledon and the Australian Open this year.
But “not tonight,” Popyrin could have said this time as the two shook hands at the net on tennis’ biggest stage, as more than 23,000 fans digested the monumental surprise.
Popyrin entered the Open for a slam for the first time as a seeded player, having also become the first Australian since Hewitt in 2003 to win an ATP 1000 title.
But few could have predicted the clinical way in which the Montreal Masters champion would tear Djokovic apart.
In a huge turning point, Popyrin held serve from 0-40 in the sixth game of the first set, before breaking Djokovic at 4-4 to take the set 0-4.
The plucky underdog waved away the disappointment of failing to grab a break in the first game of the second set, when Djokovic double-faulted three times.
Popyrin waited patiently for another chance and seized it with a flashing forehand pass, making it 5-3 and taking a convincing lead of two sets to even.
Djokovic had come from two sets down eight times in his unparalleled career and threatened to do so again when he won the third set in championship fashion.
But there was no ninth chance for tennis legend Novak as Popyrin refused to blink under the immense pressure and cashed in on five double faults from Djokovic in one deciding game.
As a consolation prize, Djokovic’s next chance to surpass Court’s grand slam total will be at Melbourne Park in January with the Australian. But the 10-time champion will then be four months away from turning 38.