Serbian Novak Djokovic, ranked second in the world, bid farewell to the US Open tennis tournament after losing to Australian Alex Popyrin in three sets to one, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, and 4-6, in the third round of the tournament today, ending the Serbian player’s hopes of winning his 25th title in the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Djokovic, who did his best to win the Olympic gold medal in Paris this month, looked sluggish against the energetic Australian who claimed the biggest win of his career.
On the other hand, German Alexander Zverev, ranked fourth in the world, qualified for the round of 16 after defeating Argentine Thomas Echeverry in three sets to one, with scores of 7-5, 6-1, 6-3, and 5-7.
And the Russian Andrey Rublev, ranked sixth, defeated the Czech Jiri Leheka in three sets to none, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4, and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov defeated the Dutch Talon Khrexpoor in three sets to none, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
In the women’s tournament, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up, overcame a stumbling start by beating Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in two sets to one, 6-1, 6-2, 2-6, in the third round of the tournament.
