Novak Djokovic has hailed Alexei Popyrin as a official US Open title contender after the audacious Australian rocked the Serbian celebrity’s grand slam goals in New York.
Djokovic rued “among the worst tennis I’ve ever performed” after coughing up 14 double-faults in his 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 third-round loss to Popyrin on Saturday (AEST).
“Actually, [my] serving [was] by far the worst ever,” he mentioned.
However the 24-time grand slam champion forged apart the frustration of being unable to proceed his quest for an unprecedented twenty fifth main to label Popyrin as a possible US Open winner.
Alexei Popyrin claimed the most important win of his profession in opposition to Novak Djokovic on the US Open. (Getty Photographs: Sarah Stier)
“Look, he is simply crushed me, the defending champion right here,” Djokovic mentioned when pressed about Popyrin’s prospects.
“So he deserves credit score for that and respect. If he serves effectively, performs effectively, he can beat anyone.
“[Carlos] Alcaraz is out. I am out, you realize, some huge upsets. The draw is opening up.
“Clearly [Jannik] Sinner is the primary favorite however then [Frances] Tiafoe is there in addition to American favorite [Taylor] Fritz.
“[Alexander] Zverev, you have got nice guys enjoying effectively, and [Andrey] Rublev, [Grigor] Dimitrov on this a part of the draw.
“Anyone can take it. It should be fascinating to see who takes the title in the long run.”
For all his courageous entrance, Djokovic couldn’t disguise his dejection at blowing his newest alternative to surpass Margaret Courtroom’s joint-record of 24 grand slam singles crowns.
Regardless of becoming a member of Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams as solely the fifth tennis participant to finish the fabled Golden Slam with an elusive victory on the Paris Olympics, Djokovic has now, for the primary time since 2017, gone a yr with out successful a serious.
At 37, the clock is ticking on his possibilities of surpassing Courtroom and turning into the primary and solely participant with 25 grand slam singles crowns below their belt.
“Clearly contemporary off the courtroom, you have got a bitter style in your mouth and you do not like dropping, regardless that I had so many extra wins than losses on this event and actually some other,” he mentioned.
“So I’ve to attract the road. Sitting from a bigger perspective, in fact I’ve to be content material.
“It is arduous to see the large perspective proper now. You are simply indignant and upset that you just misplaced and the way in which you performed and that is it.
“However tomorrow is a brand new day and I’ll clearly take into consideration what to do subsequent.”
Djokovic opted in opposition to enjoying any lead-up occasions after claiming Paris gold, sitting out the Montreal and Cincinnati Masters occasions he has received quite a few occasions earlier than earlier US Opens.
“You may argue that it is due to the Olympics, however I do not know,” he mentioned.
“I do not need to analyse that proper now. I used to be simply trying to actually enhance my sport right here each day, however it simply did not occur.
“I attempted so many issues and typically that is a difficulty, that you just transfer away from the fundamentals that work.
“Then you definitely simply lose the fundamentals. You lose the inspiration. You lose the motion, the timing, the rhythm, the tempo, the whole lot, whether or not it is a serve or some other shot.
“It was simply actually an enormous battle mentally for me to play these three matches right here as a result of I wasn’t enjoying even near my greatest.”
AAP
