- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. Pouille (FRA) (28) | 7(7) | 6 | 6(10) | 4 | 6 |
| A. Popyrin (AUS) | 6(3) | 3 | 7(12) | 6 | 3 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by L. Pouille | 6 - 3 | L. Pouille leads 3 to 2 |
| Set won by A. Popyrin | 4 - 6 | A. Popyrin has tied the match at 2 sets all |
| Set won by A. Popyrin | 6(10) - 7(12) | A. Popyrin trails 2 to 1 |
| Set won by L. Pouille | 6 - 3 | L. Pouille leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by L. Pouille | 7(7) - 6(3) | L. Pouille leads 1 to 0 |
Show Preview
The last Australian left in the men’s singles has fallen but Alexei Popyrin put in a huge fight, making Lucas Pouille go to five sets to defeat him on Saturday night.
Final score
Lucas Pouille 7(7) 6 6(10) 4 6
Alexei Popyrin 6(3) 3 7(12) 6 3
Alexei Popyrin has a chance to continue his dream run tonight when he takes on Lucas Pouille in the third round of the Australian Open. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 8:30pm (AEDT).
Alexei Popyrin is one of a number of promising young players coming through the Australian system. Currently ranked 149 in the world, Popyrin’s schedule in 2018 was mainly Challenger Tour events.
However, towards the end of the year, he started qualifying for, and winning some matches in, main tour events.
Yet, after first round losses in Brisbane and Sydney, hopes were not high for the 19-year-old. How wrong we were.
A straight set win over Mischa Zverev in the first round and a massive upset against world No.8, Dominic Thiem, in the second round.
Thiem was obviously physically unwell in that match but he took the court thinking that, even at half pace, he could beat Popyrin. Two sets to love and a break down, Thiem realised that his Australian Open was over.
Having never ventured beyond the first round of the Australian Open before, Lucas Pouille has had a reasonably trouble-free run through the first two rounds, losing only one set along the way. His last match did take just over three and a half hours, so he may have some fatigue coming into this.
Pouille did crack the top 10 in March 2018, bolstered by an impressive European indoor hardcourt season, winning in Montpellier and making two other finals. Since then, his form has fallen off a bit, dropping to No.31 in the world.
Prior to the Australian Open, his Australian summer consisted of a first-round loss in Sydney.
Prediction
I’m sensing another boilover here.
In front of a big Margaret Court Arena crowd, Popyrin can lift again to beat a player who may be suffering fatigue from a long second-round match.
Popyrin to win in 4 sets
Hide Preview
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.