Nick Kyrgios despatched out a brief however highly effective message to Alexei Popyrin after he upset Novak Djokovic because the 2022 Wimbledon finalist believes his 25-year-old compatriot has what it takes to make all of it the way in which on the US Open.
On Friday night in New York, the world No. 28 shocked the defending champion 6-4 6-2 2-6 6-4 to progress into the round-of-16 at Flushing Meadows.
For the Australian, this was simply one more enormous outcome for him that got here in August. Beforehand, he gained his maiden Masters title in Montreal. Together with his newest win, Popyrin improved to 9-1 throughout this 12 months’s North American hard-court swing forward of dealing with house favourite Frances Tiafoe.
And Kyrgios – who just isn’t competing on the US Open this 12 months however is current since he works as a commentator and analyst for ESPN – is impressed by what he has been seeing from the brand new three-time ATP champion.
“So glad for pop man. His consistency is one thing I used to be searching for my complete profession. Genuinely glad man. You’ve got what it takes to win a slam. Bro, go get it,” he wrote on X after Popyrin shocked Djokovic.
So glad for pop man. His consistency is one thing I used to be searching for my complete profession. Genuinely glad man. You’ve got what it takes to win a slam. Bro, go get it.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 31, 2024
Popyrin had a sense this might occur
The evening earlier, Botic van de Zandschulp accomplished a shock straight-set win over Carlos Alcaraz after fully outplaying the four-time Grand Slam champion. After Popyrin wakened and noticed what occurred at Arthur Ashe Stadium throughout Thursday’s night session, he turned to his girlfriend and immediately began questioning how there was no motive for him to not suppose that he could not do the identical.
“I wakened within the morning and confirmed my girlfriend right away in shock. It was loopy. Outcomes like that occur. I believed to myself, why not me at present?” the Australian shared in his presser.
After dropping of their first three conferences, the 25-year-old lastly has a win over Djokovic. Beforehand, the Serb beat this 12 months’s Montreal Masters champion in 2019 Tokyo earlier than additionally sealing four-set wins at this 12 months’s Australian Open and Wimbledon.
“As we speak was one thing that I type of thought I might do. My two experiences in opposition to him earlier this 12 months in Australian Open and Wimbledon type of gave me the arrogance to go on the market tonight and imagine that I might win and truly do it and imagine it. So once I did it, it type of felt that type of proved me proper,” Popyrin stated.
Down by two units, Djokovic bounced again within the third set by incomes three breaks and routinely forcing a fourth set. In these moments, it most likely seemed to some that the No. 2 seed would go on to make an enormous comeback – like many instances previously.
And the Serb’s opponent had that in thoughts and was eager on not permitting that to occur to him.
“There are numerous instances when he is come again from two units to like down. And I did not wish to be a kind of moments the place Novak type of stepped up and got here again from two units to like down. That was going by means of my head. It was type of further motivation for me not to do this and to win that fourth set,” Popyrin famous.
Djokovic’s confession and if Popyrin can win the US Open
After blasting 14 doubles faults – making simply 58 % of his first serve – and successful simply 46 % of his second serve factors, the four-time US Open champion ripped it as certainly one of his “rost performances.”
“Congratulations to him and his crew. He positively performed higher and deserved to win at present. On my finish, actually, the way in which I felt and the way in which I performed from the start of this event, third spherical is a hit. I imply, I’ve performed a number of the worst tennis I’ve ever performed, actually, serving by far the worst ever,” he stated.
The present world No. 2 could not have been the happiest about his play however he additionally made certain to present credit score to Popyrin and likewise instructed that he ought to positively be considered as somebody who might go all the way in which.
“I do not know what to make of that query. I imply, look, he is simply crushed me, the defending champion right here, so, I imply, he deserves credit score for that and respect. If he serves effectively, performs effectively, he can beat anyone,” Djokovic stated.
“Look, Alcaraz is out, I am out, you understand, some massive upsets. The draw is opening up. Clearly Sinner is the primary favourite, however then, you understand, Tiafoe is there in addition to American favourite Fritz. Zverev, you will have nice guys enjoying effectively, and Rublev, Dimitrov on this a part of the draw. Anyone can take it. It will be fascinating to see who takes the title in the long run.”