Popyrin's Dominance Sets Up Djokovic Showdown

Alexei Popyrin continues his rich vein of form to reach the last 32 at the US Open, setting up a possible third-round blockbuster against Novak Djokovic.

Australia’s Alexei Popyrin exuded confidence as he overwhelmed Pedro Martinez for the loss of just six games in the second round of the US Open. Popyrin stormed to a 6-2 6-4 6-0 victory over the Spaniard at Flushing Meadows, advancing to the last 32 for the third time – yet first since 2021.

He’s giving himself the best opportunity, as fresh as he could be after two straight-sets wins so far at the US Open. Popyrin needed just one hour and 49 minutes to eliminate Martinez, belting 36 winners to five past his increasingly hapless opponent. From a break down in the first set, Popyrin reeled off five straight games to take an early lead. And he was twice down a break in the second set, before assuming complete control.

Trailing 4-3 in the second, Popyrin loosened up and soared, winning nine straight games to emphatically close out the match. His improved return, something he discussed on this week’s episode of The Sit-Down podcast, was firing in the third set. He forced an error with his return in the second game to bring up break point, converting that with a drive-volley winner. He then broke for a second time with a return winner, extending his lead to 4-0.

Back-to-back aces made it 5-0, and by this point, he’d won 22 points to nine. Wilting under the onslaught, Martinez double-faulted to hand Popyrin a match point. Although the Aussie lost that one, he earned a second and secured victory with a powerful forehand Martinez could not control.

Djokovic's Struggles Present Opportunity for Popyrin

While Popyrin looked dominant on the court, Djokovic had a more difficult time in his second-round match. Djokovic, who struck eight double faults in just over two sets and landed only 47 percent of his first serves, was leading 6-4 6-4 2-0 when Djere withdrew due to injury.

“It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover, but he obviously had an injury that took him out of the tour for some time and he’s struggling to come back physically to this level,” Djokovic said. “He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions, and he should have won the second set. Overall, it was a big fight, over two hours for two sets, and I served awful. It is hard to play without a serve (because) you have to grind.”

Djokovic’s struggles could give Popyrin a chance. Despite losing to Djokovic twice in four sets this year, once at the Australian Open and once at Wimbledon, Popyrin remains confident.

“I had chances in both matches and it’s just a matter of taking those chances and playing good on the big points. That’s what he did,” Popyrin said. “He’s the greatest of all time and one of the best players in the world right now. But I’m able to go toe-to-toe with him, and just in the important points he steps up a little bit, and I just have to expect that, if I play him on Friday. Hopefully Djere can take him to five (laughter).”

Australian Players Face Mixed Fortunes

While Popyrin enjoyed a dominant victory, the day wasn’t so successful for other Australian players. Rinky Hijikata lost to Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets, 6-1 6-1 7-6(4). Maya Joint also suffered a straight-sets loss, falling to Madison Keys, 6-4 6-0.

Former US Open quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic struggled as well, losing to Elise Mertens 6-3 6-2. “It was a competitive first set and I had my chances but she played really well,” Joint said. “She lifted in the second set for sure and, yeah, I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

Despite the defeat, Joint is projected to leave New York with a career-high ranking of No. 108 in the world and on track to gain direct entry to the Australian Open in January.

The Challenge of Arthur Ashe Stadium

The potential matchup between Popyrin and Djokovic will be held on Arthur Ashe Stadium, a court that Popyrin has never played on. The stadium is known for its acoustics and can be overwhelming for players, especially during night matches. “I’ve never been on it, never even stepped foot on it, so we’ll see how it is. But look, I enjoy the big moments. I enjoy the big courts. I think you guys know that,” he said.

“If we play a night match and there’s a slot in between, then probably I could maybe jump on it for 20 minutes. If we play the first match (at night) then, yeah, I’ll be able to warm up on it. But it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be able to step foot on it. I’ll probably ... try and go and watch something just before or something like that. I think it’s going to be a little bit different to Wimbledon and probably at the AO Stadium, Rod Laver. It’ll be a little bit similar to (Philippe) Chatrier (at Roland Garros), because it’s a very big court, and I’ve been told that it’s quite hectic out there with people moving and people talking quite loudly during the point. So (that is) something that we’ll have to get used to during the match.”

Popyrin's Belief in His Abilities

Despite the challenges, Popyrin is confident he can compete with Djokovic. “I genuinely believe I could have won that match, if I had won that third set (at the Australian Open),” Popyrin said after his match against Djokovic in January. “I feel like I was in the driver’s seat and I felt super comfortable out there, and enjoyed every moment. (Djokovic) is a super-solid player, but I do feel he gives you chances every now and then in the points.”

He carried that confidence to Wimbledon, where he pushed Djokovic to the brink of a deciding set before eventually losing. “I think he served particularly well at Wimbledon,” Popyrin said. “I didn’t have many chances to break and he mixed up his serves really well. So I didn’t feel as comfortable as I did at the AO. I think that one was probably the closest, and that one was hurt more. I was disappointed afterwards, obviously, because I felt like I was in the match and I could (have) gotten my chances to win there.”

This upcoming match will be a crucial test for Popyrin, but he is clearly up for the challenge. If he can continue his impressive form and take advantage of Djokovic’s recent struggles, he might just be able to pull off an upset victory.

Conclusion: A Battle for the Ages?

As the US Open progresses, it is clear that Popyrin is a force to be reckoned with. He has the talent and confidence to compete with the best players in the world, and a potential third-round clash against Djokovic could be a real thriller. The outcome of this match could have a huge impact on the rest of Popyrin's tournament and could even be a turning point in his career. The stage is set for a potential battle for the ages, and fans around the world will be tuning in to see what happens.