Alexei Popyrin and Casper Ruud among global stars competing in Red Bull Bassline during AO Opening Week
Freshly engaged Aussie tennis ace Alexei Popyrin will star in a new fast-paced event that he believes will bring a “relaxed vibe” and new legion of fans to the game.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Loved-up Aussie tennis ace Alexei Popyrin believes a new fast format of the sport to be unveiled in the lead-up to next month’s Australian Open will lure a new legion of fans to the game.
The freshly engaged World No. 24 and Norwegian World No. 6 Casper Ruud have been unveiled as the first global stars to take part in Red Bull Bassline during AO Opening Week, presented by the Herald Sun.
Six of the top 50 tennis players will face off in the tie-break competition at Rod Laver Arena on January 7, where up to five points are played in each break and matches decided in a best-of-three format.
The event, only previously held in Madrid and Vienna, will also see players miked-up and wearing heart rate monitors visible to the crowd, with DJs and entertainment to keep the audience amped.
Popyrin told the Herald Sun: “It will definitely bring in a different sort of crowd that focuses on the quicker game. It will get the crowd excited and the Aussie crowds will definitely enjoy it.”
Popyrin, 25, also opened up on his recent engagement to longtime girlfriend Amy Pederick, and the lengths he went to ensuring he popped the question perfectly while on holiday in Mauritius last week.
“The breakfast before I proposed, I was very nervous. But it’s an amazing feeling and I know I found the right person for me,” he said.
“We love spending time together. She travels everywhere with me and I can’t imagine my life without her. So I think we made the right choice.’’
Popyrin revealed he hid the ring before kneeling to propose, but only after some drama sourcing the jewellery.
“She doesn’t usually go in my back pack because it's only really my iPad and my gaming consoles, so she is not interested in that,’’ he said.
“So I hid it in there and managed to keep it a secret from her.
“But I had a little hassle with the rings because I ordered them and there were customs delays so I had to get her brother in England to bring it over to me at Davis Cup (in Spain last month).
“It was a bit of a hassle getting the ring, but once I got it I was happy and was able to hide it from her.’’
Tickets to Bassline and charity matches featuring the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner go on sale on December 9.
The Bassline crowd will get to decide who serves and returns during matches.
“It’s really interactive with the crowd,’’ Popyrin said.
“And it’s quick and we get to have some fun with it … this event brings out a little bit more of a relaxed vibe so you kind of see a bit more of the player’s personality.’’
Ruud said: “It is great preparation for me to being able to play an event like this in the week leading into the Australian Open and get some match practice this way. With the great field of players that the event will have, I will come ready to compete and give it my best.”
Visit Red Bull Basslineand Ticketmaster for tickets.
Join the conversation
Man drowns at Balnarring Beach in Boxing Day tragedy
A man has died after being pulled from waters off Balnarring Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, while a teen is fighting for life after an incident in Bright.
Read more
‘Act immediately to survive’: Grampians towns evacuated, ‘dangerous’ afternoon conditions to come
Mafeking residents have been told it is now too dangerous to leave and urged to take shelter as a matter of survival as firefighters battle an “uncontrollable” bushfire tearing through the Grampians.
Read more