After a shocking US Open departure, Novak Djokovic makes a brutally honest confession
The renowned Serb lost 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 to the 28th seed from Australia, marking the first time in 18 years that he has failed at the US Open.
For the first time since 2017, the 37-year-old won gold at the Olympics in Paris, but he will finish the year without a Grand Slam victory.
Djokovic did not mince words about his performance; in fact, he called it the worst he has ever played.
He declared, "I've played some of the worst tennis I've ever played." "Honestly, I think the third round went well considering how I felt and how I played from the start of this tournament."
You cannot win on a surface this rapid without the serve, the ability to earn free points there, a low first-serve percentage, and a high number of double faults.
It's impossible to win, particularly when up against players like Alexei who is in great form and puts a lot of pressure on your service game. Yes, for me, it was just a terrible match.
Although Djokovic did not appear to be in danger, he did acknowledge that he had trouble staying energised during the competition.