Novak Djokovic was in the US Open interview room just minutes after his stunning 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat to Alexei Popyrin on Friday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
He began by giving top marks to his Aussie opponent, saying Popyrin "played better and deserved to win," before quickly pivoting to his own failing grade.
"On my end, honestly, the way I felt and the way I played from the beginning of this tournament, third round is a success," Djokovic said, a stunning sentiment from a man who has far more Grand Slam titles (24) than losses in the first three rounds at the majors (11).
"I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly, serving by far the worst ever," he continued, alluding to his 14 double faults Friday, his most ever at a major. "So, yeah, if you play on a quick surface like this without the serve, without ability to win free points there, very low first-serve percentage, many double faults, then you can't win. You can't win, especially against the guys who are in form like Alexei who is serving big. It puts a lot of pressure on your service game. Yeah, it was just an awful match for me."
Djokovic was competing this week for the first time since he won gold at the Paris Olympics, an achievement that completed the Serb's career Golden Slam. Asked if his exertions on the Paris clay affected his performance on Flushing's hard courts, Djokovic admitted to playing with less than a full tank.
"Obviously it had an effect. I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically," he said.
"But because it's the US Open, I gave it a shot and I tried my best. I mean, I didn't have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas, you know, and you could see that with the way I played. Just from the very beginning, from the first match, I just didn't find myself at all on this court."
Djokovic advanced past Radu Albot and Laslo Djere without losing a set in the first two rounds, but it was clear he was well short of his typical, title-winning tennis. Still, he has shown time and again an unmatched ability to play his way into peak form during a Grand Slam fortnight.
So with Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz bowing out of the US Open on consecutive nights, who's the pick to win it all in New York? The only remaining former champion is former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, who beat Djokovic to win his maiden major here in 2021 but entered this year's tournament at 0-2 on the summer hard-court swing.
"If [Popyrin] serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody," Djokovic mused. "Look, Alcaraz is out, I'm out... some big upsets. The draw is opening up.
"Obviously Sinner is the main favorite, but then, you know, Tiafoe is there as well as American favorite Fritz. Zverev, you have great guys playing well, and Rublev, Dimitrov in this part of the draw. Anybody can take it. It's going to be interesting to see who takes the title in the end."
