Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin – Breakdown and Prediction

August 30, 2024

Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin: US Open – Third round

The four-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic will face Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the US Open.

Novak Djokovic Profile

The player who is widely considered as the best tennis player ever, Novak Djokovic, is currently second in the ATP rankings. The 37-year-old is 31-7 for the season and 10-3 on hard surface.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is coming off a 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 win over Laso Djere in the second round after previously defeated Radu Albot in the opening round of the tournament by 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

For Djokovic, this is the first tournament after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics which his only title this season.

Djokovic has won four titles at the US Open and is the defending champion.

Alexei Popyrin Profile

Alexei Popyrin is currently 28th in the ATP rankings, five spots lower than his career high. The Australian is 25-17 for the season and 15-5 on hard surface.

Popyrin is coming off a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win over Pedro Martinez in the second round, after previously defeated Kwon Soon Woo by 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

Earlier this month, Popyrin won the biggest title in his career lifting the trophy in Montreal. This season, he also made it to the semifinal in Doha.

His has matched his best result at the US Open reaching the third round after he did so in 2019 and 2021.

Head-to-Head Djokovic leads 3-0

Djokovic vs Popyrin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (2024 Wimbledon, third round)
Djokovic vs Popyrin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 (2024 Australian Open, second round)
Djokovic vs Popyrin 6-4, 6-2 (2019 ATP Tokyo, first round)

Prediction and Conclusion

Alexei Popyrin has had a solid season, but he has no luck as he will face Novak Djokovic for the third time at the Grand Slams this season. The Serb won both of the previous matches, and he is a huge favorite in this one as well. Still, Popyrin has the serve to stay long in this match, and he won a set and forced a tiebreak in both of the mentioned matches. Therefore, again, we expect him to hang on, and we go with over 36.5 total games in the match.