(New York) Defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the third round on Friday night in New York.
Australian Alexei Popyrin, who won the National Bank Open on August 12 in Montreal, caused a surprise by winning 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Djokovic, who was trying to become the first player in history to win 25 Grand Slam titles, will instead have ended the year without a triumph in a major tournament, a first since 2017.
It is also interesting to note that 2024 will be the first year since 2002 without a triumph by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament.
Before Popyrin’s brilliant performance, Frances Tiafoe overcame Ben Shelton’s powerful serve and shone at the net to win an American duel 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3, reaching the fourth round.
Tiafoe has reached this stage of the tournament for the fifth year in a row.
Last year, the 26-year-old American was eliminated in four sets by Shelton in the quarter-finals.
In 2022, Tiafoe defeated Rafael Nadal on his way to the semi-finals, his best result to date in a Grand Slam.
PHOTO SETH WENIG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Frances Tiafoe
After defeating Shelton in four hours and three minutes, Tiafoe was cheered by the thousands of spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The two friends then had a long discussion at the net, during their hug.
“I have to say Ben is a really incredible player,” Tiafoe said after the duel on the court. “He tries a lot of different shots and he doesn’t care at all. It’s really annoying … he’s really talented.
“He can make great shots…and so can I. It’s one great moment after another. I hope you enjoyed the show.”
Shelton, 21, had not dropped his serve once in his two wins earlier this week. Tiafoe, however, broke him five times; the final break gave him a 3-1 lead in the fifth set.
The other key to Tiafoe’s success has been his drive to the net. He has won no fewer than 35 of his 48 points in such circumstances.
PHOTO SETH WENIG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe could face 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the next round. The Serbian will face Australian Alexei Popyrin on Friday night.
Taylor Fritz, the highest ranked American currently (12e), defeated Argentinian Francisco Comesana 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
In the fourth round he will face the Norwegian Casper Rudd or the Chinese Juncheng Shang.
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, seeded ninth, and Russia’s Andrey Rublev, seeded sixth, won their respective duels on Friday and will meet in the next round.