Decompression
Djokovic follows Alcaraz, his fellow Olympian, out of the Open
NEW YORK – The last two men to win the US Open did not even make it to Labor Day weekend this year.
The first to go was Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, who was defeated in the second round shortly before midnight on Thursday by Botic van de Zandschulp, whose level was often as hard to believe as his name is hard to pronounce.
The next to exit was Novak Djokovic, last year’s champion, who was defeated in the third round shortly before midnight on Friday by the rising Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Blame it on inspired opposition, but above all, blame it on decompression.