Novak Djokovic has admitted he “seemed and felt like an amateur at times” during his 2024 US Open campaign after his upset defeat to world No 28 Alexei Popyrin. 

The Serbian legend also revealed he had contemplated whether to withdraw from the US Open after the “huge emptying” of energy required to win the Paris Olympics.

Djokovic‘s US Open title defence ended with a shock 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 loss to Popyrin in the third round of the hard-court major on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion’s serve faltered badly throughout the tournament and he landed just 58% of his first serves and hit 14 double faults against Popyrin. He also converted only four of the 16 break points he created on the 25-year-old Australian’s serve.

It was Djokovic’s earliest defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2017 Australian Open, where he was stunned in the second round by Denis Istomin.

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The 37-year-old entered the US Open having not played since his stunning victory against Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match at the Olympic Games in Paris at the start of the month. He had not competed at a hard-court tournament since the Indian Wells Masters in March.

In his press conference with Serbian media after losing to Popyrin, Djokovic was asked about the cause of his serving struggles during the tournament.

“I don’t know, to tell you the truth, I have no idea,” he said. “My game completely fell apart. I’m not fresh… Fast conditions, totally different compared to where I trained and prepared.

“I was sick of playing this way and feeling this way. I seemed and felt like an amateur at times. It is a reality, an integral part of sport.

“At the Olympics, there was a huge emptying, there was a thought whether I should come here at all, I finished ingloriously, let’s move on.”

The Serb also addressed the fact 2024 is the first season in which he has not secured a Grand Slam title since 2017.

“I had a feeling that I could win the title at RG, but I got injured there,” Djokovic continued. “The Wimbledon final. The Olympics was the biggest goal, that’s where I played my best.

“If it’s such a year to win only that gold, I accept it, I’ve been waiting for it all my life. The weakest season in terms of results in the last 15 years, that’s how I feel, but that’s how it is.”

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