Popyrin leaves ‘cockiness’ behind to reignite career in Adelaide

Alexei Popyrin believes the lessons he learnt in a wretched 2022 season helped propel him into his first ATP Tour quarter-final since his breakthrough title in Singapore two years ago.

Backing up in Adelaide on Wednesday night from a career-best victory over world No.6 Felix Auger Aliassime, Popyrin’s radar was off early against American Marcos Giron before he battled back to post a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 success.

The 23-year-old is already almost halfway to his meagre five-win tally from last year, which he blames partly on “cockiness” after his Singapore triumph, as his ranking went into freefall from a career-best No.59.

Quiet confidence: Alexei Popyrin.Credit: Getty Images

Popyrin revealed ahead of last year’s Australian Open he was gunning for the top ranking among the country’s men’s players by season’s end – ahead of Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur – but tumbled so far he needed to qualify for this week’s Adelaide draw.

There won’t be any such extravagant statements 12 months on as he attempts to climb the rankings again with new coach Xavier Malisse, a former world No.19.

“I learnt so much last year - in my personal life, and also my professional life. I think I’ve matured so, so much and it’s a really big deal for me to just stay grounded,” 120th-ranked Popyrin told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

“Last year, coming off probably the best year I had on tour, coming off an ATP title, I probably got a little bit of a big head, got a little bit of cockiness, and last year just kind of put me [back] down to earth and kept me grounded.

“It’s honestly just take it one step at a time, learn from my mistakes which happened last year and go with the flow basically, so I’m just really trying to stay focused in the moment.”

Popyrin admitted moments after the Giron victory that he was riddled with nerves beforehand because he desperately wanted to prove the Auger Aliassime upset was not a fluke.

“It’s massive for me. Honestly, last year, I probably wouldn’t have been beating Felix, and this year, I beat him and backed it up,” he said.

“That was the biggest goal, and that’s probably why I came out more nervous today than I did against Felix because I knew I really wanted to back it up.

“I didn’t want this to be a one-and-done kind of a tournament. To be able to do that, and especially from a set down, is a really good sign for me.”

Consecutive uncharacteristic Giron errors gifted Popyrin the second set but by then the big-striking Australian was already settling into the contest.

Both players held relatively comfortably through the first six games of the final set, but the first point of the next game, on Popyrin’s serve, ignited him.

Sheer joy: Alexei Popyrin.Credit: Getty Images

He dragged Giron into the net with a drop shot then looked in danger of losing the point as he tumbled to the court, only to somehow get a racquet to an outstretched Giron’s shot.

Popyrin sprung into action from that moment and was rewarded for his bold play in the biggest of moments as he scored the pivotal break for a 5-3 lead before he completed victory on serve.

Up next is Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who eliminated red-hot Dane Holger Rune in the first round.

“It will probably be a similar match to this one, a grind. They’re similar players, I reckon, but just one’s a lefty and one’s a righty,” Popyrin said.

“They’re not the biggest hitters; they’re really solid from the back. I’m going to have to prepare really well for that match.

“I have to get back on the court, get back to work, and figure out how to neutralise opponents early in the match and not take it to a third set – and not take it to such a clutch performance.”

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