Popyrin in tears after springing big Open upset

1 year ago 59

Throughout the 2022 ATP season, young Australian braveheart Alexei Popyrin won 5 matches and mislaid 17.

He didn't cod immoderate silverware of note, and wasn't connected the lips of immoderate superior tennis pundit regarding large events.

Fast guardant to the 3rd play of January and the 23-year-old is the speech of the Australian Open, having stunned No.8 effect Taylor Fritz successful a five-set epic that lasted 4 hours and 4 minutes.

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Less than 2 days earlier helium had beaten Chun-Hsin Tseng successful different five-setter that lasted astir 4 and a fractional hours, and finished past 2am successful Melbourne.

Popyrin overwhelmed by tremendous AO scalp

His triumph implicit Fritz was thing other wholly - a wildcard knocking retired a genuine rubric contender successful beforehand of a roaring assemblage connected John Cain Arena.

"That was... this triumph is... means truthful overmuch to me," Popyrin said done the deafening cheers from the crowd.

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"I had the toughest twelvemonth past year. Didn't triumph galore matches. I person won arsenic galore matches this twelvemonth arsenic I won the full of past twelvemonth and it's lone January."

Popyrin - from Sydney - had to halt and hitch tears from his eyes arsenic helium spoke to Casey Dellacqua connected tribunal pursuing his upset victory.

"I don't privation that feeling past twelvemonth that I had ever again," helium said.

"I wrote it down. I'm going to support going and effort and spell each the mode due to the fact that I emotion this feeling and I privation much of this feeling.

"I privation you guys to person this feeling more. Man I emotion you guys truthful much."

Popyrin was buoyed massively by the vocal crowd.

Match Highlights: Taylor Fritz v Alexei Popyrin

"Oh my god, it was conscionable brainsick man. I truly couldn't person done it without you guys," helium said.

Popyrin adjacent takes connected 20-year-old American contender Ben Shelton successful circular three.

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