Novak Djokovic losing his 'aura' paved way for shock US Open 3R loss to Alexei Popyrin, claims Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors recently spoke about Novak Djokovic's unexpected third-round defeat at the hands of Alexei Popyrin at the 2024 US Open. Popyrin capitalized on an uncharacteristically error-riddled display from the Serb and produced one of the upsets of the tournament. According to Connors, Popyrin and other young players on the ATP Tour have begun to sense vulnerabilities in Djokovic's game.
Djokovic went into the match against Popyrin on Saturday, August 31, as the favorite, despite admitting after his second-round win over compatriot Laslo Djere that he was struggling with his serve. The Serb had faced the Australian twice before at Majors this year and came out on top on both occasions.
This time around though, the Serb's struggles on serve proved costly as Popyrin won the first two sets 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic mounted a comeback in the third set, clinching it 6-2 and forcing a fourth set. However, the Australian won the decisive fourth set 6-4 to condemn the 24-time Major winner to a shock exit from the year's final Grand Slam.
Recently, former World No. 1 and eight-time Major winner Jimmy Connors assessed Djokovic's 2024 US Open exit on the Advantage Connors podcast. The 72-year-old reflected on how the Serb's decision to skip tournaments in the buildup to the US Open may have played a role in facilitating his early exit from the hardcourt Major.
"He (Djokovic) went from the grass to the clay with all the hype and pressure of winning the Olympic gold. Then to come back on hard courts, you said it (to son Brett), he hasn't prepared by playing any matches," Connors said (21:17).
The former World No. 1 went on to say that the 25-year-old Popyrin and other young players on the ATP Tour have realized that the Serb has lost his "aura" of invincibility. Connors also suggested that even if Djokovic wishes, he may not be able to train harder to compete with his younger rivals because of his age.
However, the eight-time Grand Slam winner refused to rule out the Serb's chances of winning future tournaments.
"These young kids, once they get a feel that you've lost that aura around you, that you're unbeatable and that they have a chance, a lot of these kids, they see that now. And that's what happened. We always talk about this. You're getting a little bit older and you're either going to have to train harder, work harder, sacrifice, whatever, these kids, they're on it, they're on your tail," Connors added.
"And sometimes it's hard for a guy like Djokovic, being 37, week after week to get to that point. But I don't think you can ever count him out," Connors concluded.
Novak Djokovic admitted to not feeling at his best during his US Open 2024 campaign after his third-round exit
At a press conference following his loss to Popyrin, Djokovic said that he arrived at Flushing Meadows with a hint of both physical and mental fatigue. According to the Serb, this fatigue stemmed from him giving everything he had to ensure success at the Paris Olympics.
"I don't know, maybe, but it was a different surface. Obviously it had an effect, I mean I spent a lot of energy winning the gold and arrive to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically," Djokovic said.
The Serb is yet to confirm his next outing in 2024, and his chances of cementing his place at the year-end ATP Finals also look increasingly threatened. In the ATP live race, Djokovic is currently seventh, with Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov closing in rapidly.