Novak Djokovic faced a disappointing exit from the US Open, losing in the third round to Alexei Popyrin. The Serbian tennis star expressed his frustration, stating, 'It was a horrible match for me.' Djokovic acknowledged his poor performance, particularly with his serve, which he described as one of the worst of his career. Despite being the defending champion, he admitted that his preparation was subpar after a demanding Olympic campaign, leading to a mental and physical fatigue that hindered his game in New York.
On the other hand, Daniil Medvedev showcased a strong performance in the tournament, defeating Fabian Marozsan in straight sets. Medvedev's experience shone through as he navigated a challenging match that started with multiple breaks of serve. He managed to reduce unforced errors significantly in the second set, ultimately securing a place in the third round. Medvedev's light-hearted post-match comments about the noise levels during the game added a humorous touch to his victory.
While Medvedev advanced, other Russian players faced mixed fortunes. Roman Safiullin was eliminated by Matteo Arnaldi, and Mirra Andreeva fell to Ashlyn Kruger after a shaky performance. In contrast, Lyudmila Samsonova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fought hard to progress, with Pavlyuchenkova set to face world number one Iga Swiatek in her next match. Newcomers like Diana Schneider and Anna Kalinskaya also made headlines with their victories, marking a promising start to their US Open campaigns.
