Alexei Popyrin def. Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 — US Open 2026 R128

Match recap

Alexei Popyrin defeated Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the R128 of the US Open 2026.

Fourteen double faults will sink most matches, and six landed in the second set, where Dimitrov stopped being the player who won 89 percent of his first-serve points in the opener and Popyrin broke in game 8 for 5-3, then again in game 9 to take it. The free points never came back. The Australian, whose game runs almost entirely through the first ball, answered with two double faults of his own and converted six of eight break chances to Dimitrov's three of eight, the unforced errors finishing 37-25 against the qualifier. Three hours and 25 minutes to overturn a match the betting market had priced for Dimitrov at 63 percent — Popyrin's first win since the Canadian Open, and a dent in a 4-9 hard-court season.

Match stats

Grigor Dimitrov: 9 aces, 34 winners, 52% first serves, 14 double faults, 3/8 break points. Alexei Popyrin: 11 aces, 33 winners, 66% first serves, 2 double faults, 6/8 break points.

Profiles: Grigor Dimitrov · Alexei Popyrin — US Open 2026

Head-to-head

Grigor Dimitrov and Alexei Popyrin have met 3 times, with Alexei Popyrin leading the head-to-head 2–1.

• Canadian Open 2024 R16 — Alexei Popyrin won 4-6, 7(7)-6(5), 6-3
• Shanghai Masters 2024 R32 — Grigor Dimitrov won 7(7)-6(5), 6-2

Full Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin head-to-head →