Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin battled in Melbourne and London this year
Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin will embrace their third meeting at Majors in 2024 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the US Open third round. The Aussie claimed the Canada Masters title in Montreal a couple of weeks ago, gathering a boost and making a reliable start at the final Major of the season.
The Serb is aware of the rival’s serve, admitting he would love to beat him in four sets as he did in Melbourne and Wimbledon. He praised his next opponent and his improvements in movement and backhand. The defending US Open champion is yet to find his A-game in Melbourne, beating Radu Albot and Laslo Djere for a place in the third round but lacking rhythm, especially on serve.
Novak defeated Radu in straight sets, making a winning start and arranging an all-Serb duel. Novak and Laslo struggled in challenging conditions during the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with both players requiring a medical timeout.
The more experienced Serb could not breathe properly, sweating a lot and missing numerous first serves.
Djere missed his chances and lost the pivotal points, allowing world no. 2 to secure the set 6-4 and build a massive advantage. The younger Serb dealt with an injury and retired after the second game of the third set. On the other hand, Popyrin took down Soonwoo Kwon and Pedro Martinez in straight sets, arranging his third Major meeting with the 24-time Major winner in 2024.
Novak and Alexei battled in the second round of the Australian Open, and the home player pushed the defending champion to the limits at Rod Laver Arena. The Serb scored a tight 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory in three hours and 11 minutes.
The legend faced an inspired rival, a minor virus and a heckler, overcoming all the obstacles and earning his 30th consecutive win in Melbourne. The home player gave everything against such a strong rival in front of the partisan crowd.
Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin will face for the third time at Majors in 2024.
He took the second set and squandered a chance to forge two sets to one lead after blowing four set points in the tenth game of the third.
Djokovic produced more reliable numbers behind the first serve and took advantage of almost 60 unforced errors from Popyrin. The Serb defended five of seven break points and notched three breaks that sent him over the top. Novak made a reliable start, serving well in the opening set and pressuring Alexei.
The home player stayed in touch in the first half of the set. However, the defending champion took charge from 3-3, delivering a break in the eighth game and painting a backhand down the line winner in the next one for 6-3.
The Aussie served well in the second set and awaited the return chances. Djokovic lost serve in the fourth game after the rival’s volley winner at the net, falling behind and allowing Popyrin to forge a 4-1 advantage with an ace in the next one.
The home favorite served for the set at 5-3 and presented his rival with three break points.
The defending champion pulled the break back and prolonged the battle.
Instead of building on that, Novak lost serve again in the tenth game after a lob winner from his opponent, having to start all over in the third. They stayed neck and neck until the tenth game, with the veteran serving to stay in the set at 4-5.
He denied them and produced a pivotal hold for 5-5, remaining on the positive side despite a struggle. The set went into a tie break, and Djokovic clinched it 7-4, gathering a massive boost and moving closer to the finish line after two hours and 33 minutes.
The defending champion carried that momentum into the fourth set and grabbed a break at love in game six for a 4-2 advantage. The Aussie experienced three match points on serve in the eighth game, denying them and closing the game in style with five winners!
The Serb served for the triumph at 5-3 and held at 15, sealing the deal and moving through.
Two rivals met again in the third round at Wimbledon and embraced another entertaining battle.
Novak overpowered Alexei 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in three hours and five minutes, surviving a stern challenge from his rival and entering the last eight. Popyrin secured his only break in the opening set, serving well and taking it 6-4 for an early advantage.
Djokovic responded with two breaks in sets two and three while serving well, bringing them home and making a turnaround. The veteran reduced the number of mistakes after the opener, challenging his rival to follow that pace.
The Serb produced fine holds in the third set and repeated that in the fourth. The Aussie defended three break points in the 11th game and reached a tie break. Novak clinched two mini-breaks, sealing the deal and delivering his second win over Alexei at Majors in 2024.
“I will be happy if I beat Alexei in four sets for the third time this year. He has improved a lot. His serve and forehand were always strong weapons, and now he has improved his movement and backhand. Alexei is more consistent than before, spraying fewer errors.
He has the momentum on his side and will try to beta me. However, I know what to expect. I will further analyise our Australian Open and Wimbledon matches and do my homework,” Novak Djokovic said.
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