Popyrin has made optimistic progress on the US Open, profitable his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal earlier this month.
The Sydney-born participant was filled with confidence and surged by means of the primary set, saving 5 break factors earlier than finally main 4-4 and serving for the win.
He seemed even higher within the second sport, steadily going about his work, profitable 88% of the factors on his first function Djokovic continued to falter.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner lastly exploded early within the third set, profitable the primary three video games earlier than a break from Popyrin allowed him to interrupt serve.
However Djokovic was fast to reply and enthusiastically demanded extra noise from the energetic Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd as he restored the benefit and broke for a 3rd time to retain his title.
Djokovic is aiming to win the US Open for a fifth time, which might take him previous Margaret Courtroom and sole possession of the all-time document for many Grand Slam singles titles.
The 2 continued to go head-to-head within the fourth set, however Popyrin efficiently cashed in on his fourth break level within the fifth sport, placing Djokovic in serious trouble.
He additionally maintained strong kind within the subsequent service sport, saving two break factors earlier than the normally calm Djokovic made a sequence of double faults and careless errors to push the twenty eighth seed into a powerful victory. edge.
With two breaks of serve, Popyrin failed on his first serve try however was extra profitable on the second, profitable earlier than Djokovic pushed the primary match level additional. Three large service video games.
“It is unbelievable as a result of I have been within the third spherical about 15 instances in my profession and never been within the fourth spherical,” Popyrin stated.
“To have the ability to go towards the best participant in historical past and get to the fourth spherical is unbelievable, it is an ideal feeling and the arduous work is paying off.”