Australian Open 2020: Ten Aussies storm into second round
Alexei Popyrin remembers ‘jumping aroud like a crazy kid’ when watching Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2008 Australian Open final. So seeing his idol retire with injury in their first round match was ‘painful’.
Tennis
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Six Aussie men and three women progressed on Tuesday, while Ash Barty navigated through to the first round on Monday.
It’s been one of the most fruitful Aussie showings in almost two decades for the locals.
The 10 Aussies to progress: Nick Kyrgios, Alex Bolt, Marc Polmans, Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, John Millman, Ajla Tomljanovic, Arina Rodionova, Priscilla Hon, Ash Barty.
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POPYRIN’S ‘PAINFUL’ VICTORY OVER IDOL
This was not the way Alexei Popyrin wanted to beat his childhood idol.
In fact, when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire due to an injury he took into the Australian Open, Popyrin’s overriding feeling was not triumph, but anguish for one of his tennis heroes.
“This is a painful one, I’ve never felt like this after a match,” Popyrin said.
“Seeing him hurt like this, it is really painful for me.
“He was my hero as a kid. When he made the finals here (in 2008 against Novak Djokovic) I was in my living room jumping around like a crazy kid.”
Popyrin, 22, was in command up two sets-to-one when the world No.28 Wilfried-Tsonga called the trainer and said he couldn’t go on.
He had taken some painkillers immediately before the match, but after almost two hours on court, was slumped in his chair, resigned to defeat.
The popular Frenchman had lost his power and dynamic court coverage.
The 34-year-old Wilfried-Tsonga took the first set 7-6, but faded fast from early in the second set.
Then, when he started going for broke with some big shots to try and quicken the points, Popyrin capitalised with his agility and aggressive play at the net.
For the 196cm Popyrin, it is still a significant step as the 20-year-old looks to back up a break-out 2019 campaign and he won praise from legend John McEnroe.
I have to say for the record, Popyrin has a huge upside,” McEnroe said during a commentary stint, “He has top 10 talent.
“He is trying to get stronger, Popyrin. But potentially he could become a great player ... You have got Nick, Popyrin, that’s a good little run at the moment. Millman, the ultimate battler.”
HATS OFF! AUSSIE WILDCARD’S $128K VICTORY
Marc Polmans continued the winning trend with a nailbiting five-set victory over Mikhail Kukushkin.
Polmans needed to draw on all his reserves to clinch his first victory at the Australian Open, overcoming the world No.68 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4.
The match appeared over when Polmans, a wildcard entrant, opened a two-set buffer.
But Kukushkin edged his way back into the contest and forced it to a deciding fifth set by holding his nerve in a seesawing fourth set tiebreak.
An exhausted Polmans was relieved to hold out for victory after losing a five-set first-round marathon at last year’s Open.
“It was a long real long match today,” Polmans said after the Court 7 classic.
“I’m happy I was able to finish the job after being two sets love up. I was up two sets love last year and lost in five sets. I’m happy it didn’t happen again.
“It was definitely a dream come true to play in front of you guys (court 7) ... they really lifted me and thanks to everyone for hanging around.”
Melburnian Polmans, whose singles prizemoney was listed at $563,777, will pocket the biggest single pay cheque of his career after progressing to the second round
TOMLJANOVIC’S FLAWLESS VICTORY
Ajla Tomljanovic has recorded her first win at Melbourne Park in five years, in a victory she labelled one of the best of her career.
Tomljanovic blitzed No.31 seed Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 6-1 in a convincing display she admits has boosted her confidence.
“This is one of my best wins quality-wise in a slam first round,” she said.
“It felt really good to be out there and I think from the first point I felt ready.
“I felt like I was hitting the ball clean and I was really happy to close it out.
Tomljanovic last won through to the second round of her home grand slam in 2015, and last year suffered a tense three-set loss to British No.1 Jo Konta in her first-up match.
“I think I’ve had a couple of tough draws and really heartbreaker last year against Jo,” she said.
“Coming in I still thought this was a tough draw.
“I actually had her (Sevastova) two years ago at 6-0, 3-0 up and ended up losing.
“I know she never goes away and she’s so tricky, I just had to keep being consistent and aggressive.
“I’m just really pleased to be through.”