Australian Alexei Popyrin has booked his spot in the Adelaide International 1 quarter-finals after coming from behind to defeat American Marcos Giron.
Two days after pulling off a shock win against world No.6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, Popyrin sent down 16 aces and 40 winners to power past Giron 4-6 6-4 6-3 at Adelaide’s Memorial Drive on Wednesday night.
Popyrin battled a series of niggling injuries and a loss of confidence last year on the way to compiling a disappointing 5-17 win-loss record in ATP Tour events.
But the Sydneysider’s start to 2023 has been ultra impressive, and he now has a chance to make further inroads when he takes on world No.36 Yoshihito Nishioka in the quarter-finals.
The defining moment of the match came with scores locked at 3-3 in the third set.
Popyrin hit the ground after diving for a volley, and while on his backside played another net shot to win the point.
With the crowd on their feet, Popyrin used the momentum to hold serve and then get the break, with the world No.120 full of energy after sealing the win in one hour 52 minutes.
Alexei Popyrin. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
“In the first set my level wasn’t great, but he played well and didn’t miss any balls,” Popyrin said. “It made it difficult for me. But I stuck with it, I served pretty well throughout. That kept me in the match. And then when I had my opportunities to break, I tried to capitalise on it.”
At one point during the match, Popyrin hid his head under a towel while giving himself a pep talk.
“I was just trying to mentally get myself back into the match,” he said. “There was probably some swear words I was telling myself under the towel.”
Earlier, Daniil Medvedev eased into the final eight by beating Miomir Kedmanovic 6-0 6-3.
Currently ranked seventh in the world and seeking a return to the top spot he owned less than a year ago, the Russian broke four times and combined 32 winners with 13 unforced errors.
He will play his good mate Karen Khachanov for a spot in the semi-finals.
Khachanov, the former world No.8 and a semi-finalist at last year’s US Open, beat Briton Jack Draper 6-4 6-2 in 91 minutes at Memorial Drive. Nishioka beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 6-3 to set up his date with Popyrin.
World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas has produced the goods in the singles and doubles to power Greece into the semi-finals of the United Cup alongside the US, Poland and Italy.
Tsitsipas defeated Borna Coric in three sets earlier on Wednesday in the Perth city final, but the star Greek was forced to return for the mixed doubles late at night after Croatia levelled the tie at 2-2.
Maria Sakkari and Tsitsipas then teamed up to win the mixed doubles 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 against Petra Martic and Borna Gojo to seal the tie and a spot in the semi-finals, which start in Sydney on Friday.
Greece will take on lucky losers Italy, while the US face Poland in the other semi.
Italy lost 3-2 to Poland in the Brisbane city final, but earned a spot in the semis given they had the best record of the losing teams.
The US destroyed Great Britain 4-1 in Sydney to book their berth.
“We are already spiritually there,” Tsitsipas said of the upcoming semi-final in Sydney just moments after winning in Perth.
“I’m proud of the team. Fighters is what defines us. The first big step we took here in Perth is going to be memorable.”
Sakkari, who won her singles match 6-3 6-3 against Martic, felt her doubles combination with Tsitsipas was continuing to flourish.
“I’m so happy and proud of this team,” she said.
“Our games are clicking, and we know each other really well, and we have a great chemistry on the court, and that’s the key.”
World No.19 Frances Tiafoe sealed the win for the US over Great Britain with a tough 3-6 7-5 6-3 triumph over Dan Evans, giving his country an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie.
Madison Keys had earlier halted British upstart Katie Swan’s fast start, winning 2-6 6-3 6-4, before Cameron Norrie levelled the tie with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz.
Jessica Pegula cruised past Harriet Dart to give the US a 2-1 lead, before Tiafoe saved a series of clutch break points in the second set on the way to beating Evans.
“We have our battles. Every time we play, we go to war,” Tiafoe said of his thrilling match against the world No.27.
“I’m happy the USA can keep going. It feels good. I did want to beat GB. I love all of those guys. It was a great battle today.”
In Brisbane, star Poland duo Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz won the mixed doubles 6-1 6-2 to seal a 3-2 tie victory over Italy.
Lorenzo Musetti flogged Daniel Michalski 6-1 6-1 in the opening match to give Italy a 1-0 lead, before Poland’s world No.1 Swiatek levelled it up with a 6-2 6-4 win over Martina Trevisan.
Italy’s lead was restored when world No.16 Matteo Berrettini posted a tough 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Hurkacz, but when Magda Linette defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-2 and Swiatek and Hurkacz combined brilliantly in the mixed doubles, Poland were celebrating.
In Perth, Tsistipas avoided a nasty case of deja vu to score a win in the first men’s singles rubber.
The favourite was in complete control before Borna Coric launched a brave fightback, saving two match points in the second set and five in total before finally falling 6-0 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 .
Coric had saved six match points on his way to beating Tsitsipas at the 2020 US Open and looked on track for a repeat when he twice had breaks in the deciding set.
Tsitsipas, mistake-free in the first set, cast aside the disappointment of three more missed match points at 6-5 to finally take the crucial point for Greece.
Novak Djokovic may be back playing in Australia – but he’s set to miss major US events this year again over his COVID-19 vaccination stance.
It follows United States authorities announcing on Wednesday that non-nationals would need to have taken their shots to enter the country.
A statement from the Transportation Security Administration said the requirement for foreign air travellers to be fully vaccinated against the disease would be in place until April 10.
Indian Wells runs from March 6-19 and the Miami Open from March 20-April 2, meaning that Djokovic risks missing the ATP’s two major hardcourt tournaments if he continues to decide not to be vaccinated.
The 35-year-old Serb was unable to defend his Australian Open crown last year after being deported from that country on the eve of the major due to his unvaccinated status.
Djokovic, who has won 21 grand slam titles, was also not able to travel to New York for the 2022 US Open without proof of vaccination, the same reason that had forced him to miss tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.
The nine-times Australian Open champion is currently warming up for the 2023 season in Adelaide for the January 16-29 Australian Open, after his three-year travel ban for the country was waived in November.
That decision has opened a path for him to target a 10th title at Melbourne Park and potentially tie Rafael Nadal’s mark of 22 majors.
Djokovic, who previously stated he would miss grand slams rather than have the COVID vaccine, said last week that he would never forget how it felt to be deported from Australia but hoped to move on from the incident.
“What happened 12 months ago wasn’t easy to digest for some time but at the same time, I had to move on,” Djokovic said last week in his first news conference since landing in Australia.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Alex de Minaur has missed out on the chance of a lifetime to beat Rafael Nadal on clay in successive tournaments, blown away by…
The Spaniard scores first Top 20 win since November 2022, and reversed the result of a few weeks ago where the Australian came out…
Former Wimbledon champion, double grand slam winner and Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 30.…
Rafael Nadal has hailed the brilliance of Alex de Minaur, calling him "a great player" after the Australian forced the Spanish legend to say…
The clay season promises to be one of high level and tight margins. With the Monte Carlo open just around the corner, it will…
In incredible scenes, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells was halted abruptly due to a "bee invasion." Less…
