US Open 2024: Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (2) Novak Djokovic vs (28) Alexei Popyrin

Date: August 30, 2024

Tournament: US Open

Round: Third (Round of 32)

Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Category: Grand Slam

Surface: Hardcourt

Prize Money: $3,600,000

Live Telecast: ESPN (USA) | Sky Sports (UK) | TSN, RDS (Canada)

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Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin preview

A picture from the 2024 US Open. (Getty)

No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic will take on No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the 2024 US Open on August 30.

The Serb has won 29 out of 36 matches so far this season, most notably winning the Olympic gold while reaching the Wimbledon final. He also made it to the semifinals of the Australian Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters.

In the second round at US Open 2024, Djokovic overcame an ailing opponent in the form of Laslo Djere, who has been struggling with his right elbow since April this year. Djere quit while trailing 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 after fighting hard for more than two hours. Earlier, the 24-time Grand Slam champion bettered Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

Popyrin, on the other hand, opened his campaign in New York with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win against South Korea's Kwon Soon-Woo. He defeated Spain's Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in the second round.

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Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin head-to-head

Djokovic and Popyrin have clashed on the tour three times thus far, with the Serb staying invincible.

He first defeated the Australian 6-4, 6-2 in a Round-of-32 battle at the 2019 Japan Open. The two then came face to face at the Australian Open earlier this year and he registered a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 win in the second round.

The 37-year-old extended his head-to-head lead to 3-0 by bettering Popyrin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) in the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.

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Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap	Total Games
Novak Djokovic	-900	-1.5 (-375)	Over 33.5 (-125)
Alexei Popyrin	+525	+1.5 (+240)	Under 33.5 (-110)

All odds sourced from BETMGM.

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Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin prediction

Alexei Popyrin (Getty)

The Serb has remained out of touch for the majority of the 2024 season compared to his lofty standards. Except for Wimbledon and the Olympics, he has shown signs of vulnerability even against lower-ranked players.

He found it hard to get rid of qualifier Dino Prizmic in the first round of the Australian Open in January and then suffered a shocking defeat against lucky loser Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.

In May, he lost to 29th seed Alejandro Tabilo in a Round-of-32 matchup at the Italian Open before losing to unseeded Tomas Machac in the semifinal of the Geneva ATP 250.

Moreover, the Serb has struggled particularly with his serve at the ongoing US Open. He notably committed a staggering 10 doubles faults in the first round against Radu Albot and raked up eight in the two sets and two games against Djere.

Popyrin, on the other hand, has been in good form in the recent past. He recently triumphed at the Canadian Open to secure his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy. Also, Djokovic and Popyrin's head-to-head tally doesn't reflect the entire picture as the Aussie has troubled the Serb in their meetings.

At the Australian Open, Popyrin was able to take the second set and came close to taking the third as well, forcing the Serb to save four set points on serve. Furthermore, he denied the Serb four match points in their second-round meeting.

Popyrin also challenged the Serb at Wimbledon by taking the opening set. Notably, he saved a total of six break points in an otherwise disappointing affair on Centre Court.

Therefore, an upset is on the cards when the two meet in the third round of the 2024 US Open on Friday, given the contrasting forms they are in.

Pick: Alexei Popyrin to win in four sets.