“Keeps on getting closer & closer, knocking on that door” – Djokovic on Popyrin ahead of third Grand Slam clash this season
The Serb needed four sets to beat Popyrin at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year
Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin, Tokyo 2019
Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic
It’s not often that two players meet three times at the Grand Slams in the same season. This year, we will see it twice. On the women’s side, Jasmine Paolini and Bianca Andreescu faced off each other on three occasions (Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open) with the Italian winning all three times.
Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin will follow in their footsteps on Friday when the pair clash for the third time in a Major in 2024, after the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Like Paolini, Djokovic will be hoping to keep a perfect wining record in these matches.
The first two times between the pair have been close four-set affairs. Djokovic won their second-round clash in Melbourne in January by a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 scoreline and their third-round meeting at Wimbledon in July with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 margin. No surprise then that the Serb would be happy to come through once again in four sets against someone whom he says has improved by leaps and bounds in recent times.
“I’m happy to win four-set another time. Don’t get me wrong. But, he (Popyrin) keeps on getting closer and closer, knocking on that door,” Djokovic told the media in New York.
During those encounters, Popyrin was ranked in the 40s. The 25-year-old Australian comes into this match ranked No 28, having peaked at No 23 earlier this month. He also comes in having won his first 1000 title in Canada earlier this month, where he beat three top 10 players on the way.
“He’s a really good player. He has improved a lot. He’s won his first Masters in Canada. We always knew he has a big serve and forehand, but I think his backhand and his movement improved a lot. He’s much better defending, and he’s more consistent. He doesn’t make as many errors as he used to. Just overall great improvement from his side. He’s pumped. He’s confident, and he shows that. He’s been playing some great tennis, so no reason for him not to believe that he can put up a great performance, and he’s going to go for the win. I know that.”
I think that one was probably the closest, and that one was hurt more.
Alexei Popyrin on his loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open
The Serb, who has yet to drop a set this week in his first two matches but looked to struggle a bit in the second set of his second-round match before Laslo Djere retired, will come in prepared for the contest.
“But I know what to expect as well. We played, as you said, a couple of times. I’m going to, of course, do my homework, analyze those matches, and see what needs to be done.”
Popyrin, on the other hand, knows that he had his chances in both those previous matches, especially the contest at the Australian Open.
“I had chances in both matches and it’s just a matter of taking those chances and playing good on the big points. That’s what he did,” said the Australian. “I think he served particularly well at Wimbledon. I didn’t have many chances to break and he mixed up his serves really well. So I didn’t feel as comfortable as I did at the AO. I think that one was probably the closest, and that one hurt more. I was disappointed afterwards, obviously, because I felt like I was in the match and I could (have) gotten my chances to win there.”
Overall, Djokovic holds a 3-0 edge in the head-to-head over Popyrin and will look to make that four out of four on Friday.
