Paige Bueckers, the standout player for the UConn Huskies, was seen cheering on American tennis player Frances Tiafoe as he advanced to the Quarter-Finals at the US Open. Bueckers, a big fan of Tiafoe, was ecstatic after his impressive victory over Alexei Popyrin, whom he defeated in straight sets. Tiafoe, who recently beat 2023 US Open winner Novak Djokovic, received lots of love and support from Bueckers who declared herself his biggest fan on Instagram. Now, Bueckers will continue to root for Tiafoe as he takes on Grigor Dimitrov in the Quarter-Finals at the world-renowned Ashe Arthur Stadium.
The pursuit of Olympic gold seemed to have drained Novak Djokovic, as he crashed out of the US Open in a shock third-round defeat to Australian Alexei Popyrin. This comes just weeks after his biggest career achievement at the Olympics, where he beat rival Carlos Alcaraz in the finale. However, both Djokovic and Alcaraz now hold unwanted records at the US Open, with Djokovic suffering his earliest exit from the tournament since 2006 and Alcaraz following suit with a stunning straight-sets defeat by world number 74 Botic van de Zandschulp.
Defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising defeat to 28th-ranked Alexei Popyrin in the third round, ending his title defense and making this his earliest exit at the tournament in 18 years. This marks the first time since 2017 that Djokovic fails to make the second week of a Grand Slam and the fourth time in his career that he has gone without a Major title in a single year. This upset reveals the current transitional state of men's tennis, with Djokovic as the sole remaining member of the sport's previous dominant trio of players.
After suffering his worst defeat in over a decade, Novak Djokovic says he played some of the worst tennis in his life which led to his early exit from the US Open. With 14 double faults and a total of 32 at the tournament, the world's number one player was stunned by Alexei Popyrin. Djokovic tried to push through after his Olympic gold win and arrive in New York mentally and physically drained. Despite his efforts, he was unable to find his game and make it past the third round, ending his hopes of securing his 25th Grand Slam title.
In a major upset at the US Open, 28th seed Alexei Popyrin stunned defending champion Novak Djokovic in a Round of 32 clash. The Serbian, who recently won Olympic gold, struggled with fatigue throughout the match and eventually lost 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. This is also Popyrin's first time reaching the Round of 16 in any Grand Slam.
In a surprise upset, first-time competitor Alexei Popyrin defeated reigning US Open champion Novak Djokovic in a thrilling Friday night match. Popyrin's impressive performance, including dazzling forehand shots and a fan-favored attitude, captivated the packed crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The unseeded Popyrin had only ever dreamed of beating Djokovic, but his skill and composure on the court proved to be more than enough to secure a stunning victory.
In a stunning upset, top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic suffered a defeat at the hands of Australian challenger Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the U.S. Open, ending his hopes of winning a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. Despite coming off of a recent Olympic gold medal win, Djokovic appeared sluggish and unable to keep up with the energetic Popyrin, who notched the biggest win of his career. This marks the first time Popyrin has made it to the round of 16 in a major tournament. Tennis fans around the world are left in disbelief as the Serbian's quest for a historic win comes to an end.
After winning Olympic gold for the first time in his career, Novak Djokovic faced an unexpected defeat at the US Open against Australian player Alexei Popyrin. Djokovic admitted to feeling fatigued and out of gas after expending a lot of energy on his Olympic gold victory. This marks the first time since 2002 that none of the "Big Three" - Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, and Roger Federer - have won a major in a season, hinting at a possible shift in the men's game.
Novak Djokovic, considered one of the 'Big Three' in tennis, faced a disheartening defeat at the US Open to the 28th-ranked Australian player Alexei Popyrin. This result marks his earliest exit from the tournament in 18 years and casts doubts on his long-term future in the sport. With this defeat, Djokovic's quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title comes up short once again and he will end the season without a major title for the first time since 2017.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic's quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title was cut short at the US Open after a four-set defeat to Australian Alexei Popyrin. The shocking loss marks Djokovic's earliest exit at the tournament in 18 years and leaves him without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017. This year has been a series of disappointments for the 37-year-old, with younger players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz surpassing him and taking his titles and world number one ranking.