Novak Djokovic names new US Open 2024 title favorites after his and Carlos Alcaraz's unexpected early exits
Novak Djokovic recently named the potential 2024 US Open winners after his and World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz's unexpected early exits. The Serb faltered against Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round on Friday.
Popyrin prevailed 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on the back of five break points and 15 aces to hand #2 seed Djokovic his worst defeat at the Grand Slam level since the second-round exit from the 2017 Australian Open.
In his post-match presser, reporters asked Djokovic if Popyrin, who recently won the ATP Masters 1000 Canada, could go big at the New York major.
"I don't know what to make of that question. I mean he’s just beaten me, the defending champion here, so he deserves the credit for that and respect. If he serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody," the 37-year-old said.
A day before the Serb's loss, Flushing Meadows witnessed another upset when World No. 74 Botic van de Zandschulp trumped third seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in the second-round showdown.
In the 24-time Grand Slam champion's opinion, the unforeseen results have opened up the draw. Hence, anyone from the top seeds, especially World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, can claim the glory.
He also named the likes of Frances Tiafoe (#20), Taylor Fritz (#12), Alexander Zverev (#4), Andrey Rublev (#6), and Grigor Dimitrov (#9).
"I mean look Alcaraz is out, I’m out, some big upsets. The draw is opening up, obviously, Sinner is the main favorite but then Tiafoe is there as well as American favorite. Fritz, Zverev, you have great guys playing well, Rublev, Dimitrov in this part of the draw. Anybody can take it. It’s going to be interesting to see who takes the title in the end," the Serb added.
Notably, all the aforenamed participants, except Sinner, have reached the fourth round, with Zverev up against Brandon Nakashima, and Rublev and Dimitrov pitted against each other. Furthermore, Fritz faces Casper Ruud as Tiafoe takes on Popyrin.
Novak Djokovic equals worst showing at US Open, Carlos Alcaraz hits new low
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz met corresponding fates at the 2024 US Open, exiting the men's singles draw early.
Djokovic marked his New York debut in 2005 with a win over France's Gael Monfils in the first round. He further ousted 22nd seed Mario Ancic in the second round before losing to Spain's Fernando Verdasco in the third.
He returned to Flushing Meadows in 2006 seeded 20th and took out Donald Young and Mardy Fish before Australia's Lleyton Hewitt beat him in the third round. Hereafter, the four-time US Open champion never finished in or before the third round except for this year's loss to Alexei Popyrin.
Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, has a more recent history in Flushing Meadows as he first appeared in 2021 to produce an impressive run to the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz claimed the title in 2022 with a win over Casper Ruud in the final and reached the semifinals last year, meaning the Spaniard hit a new low by losing to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round this year.