Happy at home, Popyrin hoping to lean on Aussie support against Djokovic

‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’ was quickly followed by ‘Popyrin, Popyrin, Popyrin,' in the early hours of 19 January 2023 on John Cain Arena.

Standing in the middle, embracing the roar was Australian Alexei Popyrin, who had just defeated World No. 9 Taylor Fritz in a five-set epic at the Australian Open. Back in Melbourne 12 months later, the 24-year-old sits with a beaming smile when reflecting on the moment.

“It was a unbelievable. The match was such a high level,” Popyrin said. “The tennis was really, really good, but also it was a spectacle. It was an unbelievable match to watch and to be a part of and to play. I wouldn't have done that without the fans on my back. I lost the fourth set 6-7. I had match points in the fourth. Without the crowd support, I don't think I would have come back so quickly in the fifth set, mentally.

“Them chanting my name at the Australian Open. That was something that I'll never forget for the rest of my life. It'll be the best memory in my career for my whole life so that is amazing.”

Popyrin will need all the support he can get on Wednesday when he faces World No. 1 and record 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in the second round at the Australian Open. His countryman Alex de Minaur defeated the Serbian at the United Cup earlier this month.

Popyrin admitted that he will speak to De Minaur before the match and look back on his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Djokovic in 2019, when the 98-time tour-level titlist beat a then-19-year-old Popyrin in Tokyo.

“I’ll definitely ask Alex,” Popyrin said. “I have to. I have to do my homework. I played him when I was 19 years old. I just broke the Top 100 when I played him and qualified for that tournament. I remember that I was physically just not up to par with him.

“Now I'm 24 years old, five years later, a bit more experienced, bit more mature. A bit physically stronger. I would say much more physically stronger. I think for me playing the way that I have to play and focusing more on myself than who is on the opposite side of the net.”

Djokovic has not lost at the Australian Open since 2018 when he fell to Hyeon Chung in the fourth round. The Everton FC supporter Popyrin thundered 20 aces against Marc Polmans in his first-round win, clubbing 56 winners in total. He will need to hope his weapons are firing if he is to cause the top seed problems.

“I don't think he's got any weaknesses,” Popyrin said on Djokovic. “He's physically strong, got really good forehand, really good backhand, solid from the back, amazing serve. He is the greatest of all time in our sport, so to get there, you have to have no weaknesses. But I have big weapons in my game that I believe can do some damage.”

After dropping outside the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2022, Popyrin’s run to the third round at the 2023 Australian Open kickstarted a career-best season.

He went on to win his second tour-level title in Umag in July and advanced to the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.

"The season for me last year was really, really important. To bounce back on a hard year that I had in 2022. I did that. I went up 80 spots from 120 to 40,” Popyrin said. “For me to be able to bounce back like that after the year I had the year before was really important. And for this year it's just to build on what we built last year.

“It's more improving the game rather than focusing on the rankings because if we improve the game then the ranking will come itself. I just focus on the everyday practise, improving what I have to improve and then the ranking will come.”

The Australian swing means a chance for Popyrin to play at home. He enjoys vegemite sandwiches, playing golf and going to beaches when back. But what aspect of Australia does he love the most?

“I think it's playing in front of Australian crowds,” Popyrin said. “You get to experience that in three tournaments a year. I think it's something that none of the Aussies take for granted playing in front of a home crowd.

“Every match we play, we get packed stadiums, we get packed crowds and not many countries have that. And we're one of the lucky countries that do, so when we go out there, we just give our all for the fans and for the people that come and watch. And it's something special when you get the results that everybody wants you to and the crowd has your back.”