With his backhand fortified and his confidence rising, Alexei Popyrin has an opportunity to reach the quarterfinals of a grand slam for the first time after surging into the second week of the French Open with a stirring display on Friday.
After a run of outs at Roland Garros surprising given his credentials as a former French Open boys’ champion, the Australian has demonstrated in Paris over the past week the weaponry that makes him a threat on the shifting surface.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Pitted against tough Portuguese Nuno Borges in a third round clash on Friday, Popyrin overcame the frustration of having several opportunities go begging in a dramatic second set on the way to a 6-4 7-6 (11) 7-6 (5) triumph in just over three hours.
After being untouched on serve for the best part of the 75 minutes, the Sydneysider twice dropped his delivery when attempting to move to a two set lead and ultimately required six set points, while saving two himself, to snare a pivotal moment in a testing battle.
Opportunity knocked at different stages through the third set as well, with the three-time ATP Tour titleholder holding four break points at 4-3 and then two match points at 5-4 in service games of Borges.
Popyrin was then forced to save a break point of his own at 5-all, with his superb serve coming to the fore once again.
Come the tie-breaker, he was the superior player and used a balance of power and touch to seize an important win in his career on his fifth match point, with a booming serve down the T proving unreturnable.
It was an impressive performance from Popyrin, who rose in prominence last August when becoming just the fourth Australian after Pat Rafter, Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt to win at Masters level when successful in Montreal.
He followed that exceptional effort by upsetting 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic at the US Open when reaching the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time.
But in a season that has been far from a smooth ride, with Popyrin’s former coach Xavier Malisse shocking him at Indian Wells when calling an end to what had been a fruitful partnership, the agile right-hander has regained his best form in Paris.
He had been building in recent weeks with runs to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and also the Geneva Open clinched by Djokovic last week.
But under new coach Wayne Ferreira, Popyrin has taken another step forward in a career that has promised much after his success as a junior in Paris in 2017.
Discussion about this post