In a shocking turn of events, Novak Djokovic, the reigning US Open champion, was ousted from the tournament in the third round by Australia's Alexei Popyrin. The 28th-seeded Popyrin pulled off a monumental upset, defeating Djokovic in four sets, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

This unexpected loss marks Djokovic's earliest exit from the US Open in nearly two decades and means he will conclude the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017. His pursuit of a record-breaking 25th major title will have to wait.

Djokovic, typically known for his precision and skill, was uncharacteristically erratic, serving a career-high 14 double faults and committing 49 unforced errors. "I played some of the worst tennis of my life," the 37-year-old admitted.

Popyrin's remarkable victory propels him into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, where he will face Frances Tiafoe. Djokovic, on the other hand, will regroup and look to the future, saying, "Life moves on. I'll try to recalibrate and look forward to what's next."