<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328066</docID> <postdate>2024-08-31 14:01:30</postdate> <headline>Aussie Popyrin stuns Djokovic to make US Open’s last 16</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-328067" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240831146834734285-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Alexei Popyrin celebrates during his thunderous US Open win over Novak Djokovic. (AP PHOTO)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Darren Walton</strong> in New York</span></p> <p><strong>Shooting star Alexei Popyrin has shattered Novak Djokovic's latest quest for tennis immortality with a hoodoo-busting third-round US Open triumph in New York.</strong></p> <p>Popyrin sensationally snapped Djokovic's 18-year grand slam winning streak over Australians with a seismic 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.</p> <p>As he was at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic had once again been desperate to break Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 singles majors with a fifth title at Flushing Meadows.</p> <p>Instead 25-year-old Popyrin can himself dream big after sending the ageing world No.2 packing to storm into the last 16 of a slam for the first time.</p> <p>While Djokovic was gripped with serving yips, the ice-cool Sydneysider was rock solid on his delivery, fending off seven of eight break points he faced during a tension-marred fourth - and ultimately - deciding set.</p> <p>Djokovic dropped serve five times and coughed up another extraordinary 14 double-faults to take his tournament tally to a shocking 32 in eight-and-a-bit sets including a second-round retirement from fellow Serb Laslo Djere.</p> <p>Fittingly, Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt was in Popyrin's courtside box for the biggest win of the former French Open junior champion's career.</p> <p>Not since Hewitt in the US Open third round in 2006, when Djokovic was only 19, had an Australian conquered the longest-serving world No.1 in tennis history.</p> <p>Since then, Djokovic - who completed the so-called golden slam with elusive Olympic Games glory last month - an had chalked up 15 successive victories over Aussies at the majors, including exacting revenge against Hewitt four times.</p> <p>The sport's now-undisputed GOAT had also taken down Jordan Thompson, Alex de Minaur, Â Nick Kyrgios, John Millman, Carsten Ball and Thanasi Kokkinakis and Bernard Tomic twice each.</p> <p>Djokovic had also denied Popyrin in four sets at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open this year.</p> <p>But "not tonight", Popyrin could have said this time when the pair shook hands at the net on tennis's biggest stage as more than 23,000 fans digested the monumental upset.</p> <p>Popyrin entered the Open seeded at a slam for the first time after also becoming the first Australian since Hewitt in 2003 to win an ATP 1000 crown.</p> <p>But few could have predicted the clinical manner in which the Montreal Masters champ dismantled Djokovic.</p> <p>In a huge turning point, Popyrin held serve from 0-40 in the sixth game of the opening set before breaking Djokovic at 4-4 and closing out the set to love.</p> <p>The gritty underdog shrugged off the disappointment of not nabbing another break in the first game of the second set when Djokovic dished out three double-faults.</p> <p>Popyrin patiently waited for another chance, and took it with a sizzling forehand pass to break for 5-3 and then seize a commanding two-sets-to-love advantage.</p> <p>Djokovic had battled back from two sets down eight previous times in his unparalleled career and threatened to once more after taking the third in champion's style.</p> <p>But there was no ninth life for this tennis super Novak when Popyrin refused to blink under the intense pressure and cashed in on five double-faults from Djokovic in one decisive game.</p> <p>In a consolation, Djokovic's next chance to surpass Court's grand slam tally will come at Melbourne Park in January at the Australian.</p> <p>But the 10-time champion will be four months shy of 38 by then.</p> </body>