Novak Djokovic Shockingly Defeated by Alexei Popyrin at US Open
Novak Djokovic, the world number one, knocked out of the US Open in the second round
Popyrin, ranked world number 113, wins in five sets
Novak Djokovic, the world number one, was eliminated in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday, losing to Alexei Popyrin in five sets.
Djokovic, who was seeking his 18th grand slam title, was beaten 7-6 (5), 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2 by the unseeded Australian.
It was a shock defeat for the top seed, who had won four of the last five grand slams and had not lost a match at a major since 2017.
Popyrin, who is ranked 113th in the world, played the match of his life to beat Djokovic.
The 21-year-old Australian hit 63 winners and served 20 aces.
Djokovic, who made 54 unforced errors, was unable to match Popyrin's power and aggression.
The defeat is a major setback for Djokovic, who was hoping to equal Roger Federer's record of 20 grand slam titles.
Reaction to Djokovic's defeat
The tennis world was shocked by Djokovic's defeat.
Many experts had predicted that Djokovic would win the US Open, and his loss to Popyrin was seen as a major upset.
Popyrin's victory was hailed as a triumph for the underdog.
The Australian player said that he was "over the moon" with his win.
"I can't believe I beat Novak Djokovic," Popyrin said.
"He's the best player in the world, and I'm just a kid from Australia.
"I'm so grateful for this opportunity, and I'm going to make the most of it."
What's next for Djokovic?
Djokovic's defeat at the US Open is a setback, but it does not mean that his career is over.
The Serbian player is still the world number one, and he has won 17 grand slam titles.
Djokovic will now focus on the French Open, which will be held in October.
The French Open is Djokovic's favorite grand slam, and he will be hoping to win it for a third time.
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