In a moment that reverberated through the tennis world, Alexei Popyrin, the towering Australian ranked No. 28, delivered a seismic upset at the 2024 US Open, defeating defending champion and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the third round. The 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory, which unfolded under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, marked the biggest win of Popyrin’s career and propelled him into the fourth round of a Major for the first time. Reflecting on the triumph nearly a year later, Popyrin revealed the confidence that fueled his performance, a belief forged in earlier battles against the Serbian legend. “Against Novak, I think everybody always knew that I’m capable of producing a one-match stunner,” he said, emphasizing his focus on consistency. “But I want to get back to winning the matches that I should be winning, stringing together wins and then giving a good account in the matches that I’m the underdog.”
Popyrin’s path to this historic victory was paved by a breakout summer in 2024. Just weeks before the US Open, the 25-year-old Sydneysider claimed his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, toppling five top-20 players, including Ben Shelton, Hubert Hurkacz, Grigor Dimitrov, and Andrey Rublev. “For me, winning Montreal was way bigger than today, just because it’s a title, and it’s a Masters 1000 title,” Popyrin reflected, noting the emotional weight of that achievement. Yet, the Djokovic win carried its own significance, as it marked his first victory over the Serbian after three previous losses, including tight four-set battles at the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon. “My two experiences against [Djokovic] earlier this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon kind of gave me the confidence to go out there tonight and believe that I could win,” he said, crediting those matches for proving his game could challenge the elite.
The match itself was a three-hour, 19-minute epic, with Popyrin’s aggressive style overwhelming a struggling Djokovic. The Australian unleashed 50 winners, including 22 off his powerful forehand, and went a perfect 10-for-10 on serve-and-volley approaches. His net play and ability to seize critical moments—like a 22-stroke rally ending with an inside-out forehand to break for a 3-2 lead in the fourth set—proved decisive. “Third time lucky I guess,” Popyrin quipped, acknowledging his persistence. “I was able to take my chances when I had them and played some good tennis.” Djokovic, hampered by 14 double faults and residual fatigue from his Olympic gold medal win in Paris, admitted, “I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly. Serving – by far – the worst ever.” He added, “I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically.”
Popyrin’s triumph came on the heels of another US Open shocker, with Carlos Alcaraz falling to Botic van de Zandschulp the previous night, making it only the third time in the Open Era that two of the top three men’s seeds exited before the fourth round. “I woke up this morning and showed my girlfriend straightaway, in shock,” Popyrin said of Alcaraz’s defeat, which boosted his belief in pulling off his own upset. Supported by Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who watched from his box—the same Hewitt who defeated Djokovic in the 2006 US Open third round—Popyrin celebrated a career milestone. “It’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times in my career, but I haven’t been able to get past to the fourth round,” he said. “To be able to do it against the greatest of all time to get into the fourth round is unbelievable.”
The victory elevated Popyrin to a career-high No. 23 in the ATP rankings, with a potential top-20 breakthrough if he advanced past Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round. “He’s a really good friend of mine,” Popyrin said of Tiafoe, anticipating their first competitive meeting. “He’s a very tricky player. Probably has one of the best hands on Tour, comes into the net a lot, likes to mix it up.” Despite some fans criticizing his exuberant celebrations, which included a roar and raised arms after breaking Djokovic in the fourth set, others defended his passion, noting Djokovic’s own history of animated reactions. Popyrin’s focus on consistency, as praised by compatriot Alex de Minaur—“For a big, tall guy Pop’s movement is extremely good”—underscores his potential to become a mainstay among the elite. As he prepares for the 2025 US Open, where he aims to replicate his Montreal and New York heroics, Popyrin’s upset of Djokovic remains a testament to his growing prowess and fearless mentality.
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