"Some of the worst tennis I have ever played": Novak Djokovic slams display after shock Popyrin loss at US Open
ATP
Novak Djokovic slammed his display as some of the worst tennis he has ever played as he was defeated by Alexei Popyrin at the 2024 US Open.
Popyrin who recently won the title in Toronto sealed a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win over the 24-time Grand Slam champion who will likely endure a title drought for the first time since 2017 and he lamented his display post match.
"Congratulations to him and his team," Djokovic said. "He definitely played better and deserved to win today.
"I mean, on my end, honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, third round is a success. I mean, I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly, serving by far the worst ever.
"So, yeah, if you play on a quick surface like this without, you know, the serve, without ability to win free points there, very low first-serve percentage, many double faults, then you can't win.
"You can't win, especially against the guys who are in form like Alexei who is serving big, puts a lot of pressure on your service game. Yeah, it was just an awful match for me."
He refused to fully blame his shift from the Olympic Games on clay straight to the US Open but did say that he did get to New York not feeling great.
"I don't know. Maybe, maybe. But it's a different surface.
"I mean, obviously it had an effect. I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically.
"But because it's US Open, you know, I gave it a shot and I tried my best. I mean, I didn't have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas, you know, and you could see that with the way I played.
"Just from the very beginning, from the first match, I just didn't find myself at all on this court. It's all I can say, you know. You know, life moves on. I mean, yeah, just try and recalibrate and look for what's next."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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