United States Open 2024: Novak Djokovic establishes Alexei Popyrin face-off amidst broken heart for Aussie gamers

Alexei Popyrin has actually established a 3rd round hit versus Novak Djokovic at the United States Open after an excellent straight-sets gain Spain’s Pedro Martinez in the 2nd round. Popyrin maintained his excellent run of type going by controling Martinez in a 6-2 6-4 6-0 success, in what verified to a harsh day of dramatization for other Aussie tennis celebrities Rinky Hijikata, Ajla Tomljanovic and 18-year-old qualifier Maya Joint – that were all gotten rid of.

Popyrin entered into the year’s last conquest seeded for the very first time at a significant and the World No.28 made it 9 success from his previous 10 suits on North American tough courts after sending off Martinez in one hour and 48 mins. The incentive for the Aussie – that just recently won his very first ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal – is a mouthwatering 3rd round clash versus protecting champ and 24-time significant champion Djokovic, that took advantage of the 3rd collection retired life of other Serb, Laslo Djere in the future Thursday (AEST).

Popyrin got rid of blistering problems in New York and was two times compelled to eliminate back from break factors down in the 2nd collection, after taking the opener. Martinez verified no suit for Popyrin in the 3rd collection as the Aussie celebrity served a ‘bagel’ for the unlucky Spaniard to preserve his document of not going down an established until now at Flushing Meadows.

“It was hot. I’m just glad I got it done in straight sets – I don’t know if I would have made five sets in this heat. But who knows? I’m glad I didn’t have to find out,” an eased Popyrin stated throughout an on-court meeting withStan Sport The Aussie currently deals with the complicated possibility of meeting Djokovic in the 3rd round, having actually currently dealt with the Serb two times in conquests currently this year.

The 25-year-old Sydneysider pressed the 24-time significant champion to 4 embed in the 2nd round of the Australian Open, and once again in the 3rd round atWimbledon And with Popyrin in the type of his life and Djokovic starting to reveal indicators that his grip on the males’s video game is is sliding, the Aussie need to head right into the 3rd round in a certain way of thinking – also if wished Djokovic’s 2nd round suit ended up being a five-set marathon.

Alexei Popyrin makes Novak Djokovic joke prior to clash

“Honestly, (what I learned from those matches against Djokovic was) just that I’m able to compete with him,” Popyrin stated. “He’s the best of perpetuity and among the most effective gamers on the planet now. But I have the ability to go toe-to-toe with him, and simply in the vital factors he tips up a bit, and I simply need to anticipate that, if I play him onFriday Hopefully Djere can take him to 5,” he joked.

Unfortunately for the Aussie, Djere was unable to put up much of a fight against Djokovic, despite taking an early break in the second set. Djokovic fought back to claim the second set 6-4 and was up 2-0 in the third when Djere retired injured, gifting the reigning champion an easy passage into the third round.

Popyrin’s triumph came on a bad day for a host of his fellow Aussies, with Hijikata dealt a grand slam reality check against ninth seed, Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian issued a statement to his rivals after dropping just two games across the opening two sets, before sending Hijikata packing in a 6-1 6-1 7-6 (7-4) thrashing.

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Hijikata stormed to the fourth round of the US Open last year as a wildcard but came up against an imperious Dimitrov, who is playing his best tennis at the age of 33. The Aussie could not have imagined winning just two games in the first two sets though, and despite putting up a fight in the third, Dimitrov’s class ultimately prevailed as he won in two hours and 10 minutes.

< figcaption course=” caption-collapse”>Rinky Hijikata and Ajla Tomljanovic were among a group of Aussies eliminated in the second round at the US Open. Pic: Getty

Former women’s quarter-finalist Tomljanovic and 18-year-old qualifier Joint were also eliminated to complete the heartache for the Aussie contingent, apart from Popyrin. Tomljanovic lost her second-round match 6-3 6-2 to Belgian 33rd seed Elise Mertens, while Joint’s breakout grand slam run came to a halt with a 6-4 6-0 loss to 2017 runner-up Madison Keys.

“It was an affordable very first collection and I had my opportunities yet she played actually well,” Joint said. “She raised in the 2nd collection without a doubt and, yeah, I do not believe I did anything incorrect.” Joint can take relief in the reality that she’ll leave New York with a predicted career-high position of World No.108 – leaving the 18-year-old on the right track to burglarize the top-100 and safe and secure straight entrance right into the Australian Open in January.

with AAP