Wimbledon 2019: Alexei Popyrin defeats Pablo Carreno Busta in first round

Young Aussie makes dazzling Wimbledon debut, bouncing out former US Open semi-finalist in straight sets.

Alexei Popyrin scrambles to return a forehand during his Wimbledon first round victory over Pablo Carreno Busta. Picture: Getty Images

Australian Alexei Popyrin has made a dazzling debut at Wimbledon by eclipsing former US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets.

While American 15-year-old Cori Gauff is the talk of the tennis world after stunning five-time champion Venus Williams on her Wimbledon debut, the Australian teenager is showing immense potential in the mens ranks.

After demonstrating great poise in the opening two sets against a rival who finished 2017 in the top ten, the 19-year-old was dominant in the third set when successful 7-6 (2) 7-5 6-2.

The Sydneysider capped a maiden success at the All England Club in stunning style when thumping four aces in succession to close out the match.

“That felt pretty good,” he said.

“I think I have done it before but not every match, no, and definitely not the last game of the match to serve it out.”

Popyrin, who will now play 11th seed Daniil Medvedev, was one of two Australian winners on the opening day.

Ajla Tomljanovic joined him in the second round when thrashing last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finalist Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-1 in 1hr 6min.

Her victory squared the ledger for Australian hopes after Daria Gavrilova and Astra Sharma were beaten earlier just over an hour after the opening serves were struck for this year’s Championships.

Australia’s Daria Gavrilova returns against Elina Svitolina. Picture: AFP

Both were competitive early on against highly-rated rivals but were unable to sustain the pressure.

Gavrilova was beaten 7-5 6-0 by 8th seed Elina Svitolina, while Sharma fell to Sofia Kenin 6-4 6-2.

Although grass is far from Carreno Busta’s preferred surface, it was an outstanding win by Popyrin given the gulf in experience between the pair.

The right-hander started well, with his serve a key factor in allowing him to establish himself against the older Spaniard.

The pair traded breaks early on but the teenager always looked threatening against his experienced rival.

The Australian, who broke into the top 100 for the first time last week, has already shown a propensity to hold his own in tiebreakers in his brief history in grand slam tournaments.

It proved a key at the end of the first set when he was by far the steadier performer.

A blistering off-backhand winner — one of 17 overall he struck in the first set compared to the seven of the Spaniard — allowed him five set points and he seized the initiative two points later.

The qualifier was able to edge ahead for a 3-2 lead in the second set when, on his fourth break point, he was able to break Carreno Busta when clubbing a backhand return that forced his rival into error.

But he regifted the break immediately when erring on a low forehand volley in the next game.

Impressively, the former French Open boys champion did not lose his focus despite a series of break point opportunities going begging in Carreno Busta’s following two service games.

His persistence was admirable and given the pressure he was applying, it seemed only a matter of time before another break would fall his way.

And that occurred at 5-all when, on his fifth break point for the game, the world No 50 over hit a backhand.

When Popyrin put away an overhead while leaping into the air in the following game, he held a two set advantage.

With the momentum behind him, the Australian raced away in the third set for a convincing victory.

“Having gone through quallies and having done all the hard work, to finally get that first round win is a special feeling,” Popyrin said.

“I knew he was a solid player, though maybe grass is not his favourite surface to play on, but I knew it was going to be a tough match either way, so I had to stay focused and keep myself prepared for the match.

“It felt special playing here in the main draw. It was a dream come true for me and it definitely felt special for me.”

The performance of Tomljanovic was impressive, with the right-hander dominant against Kasatkina, who finished last year ranked 10.

Now the second ranked Australian woman behind Barty at 49, the 26-year-old returned brilliantly to reach the round of 64 for just the second time in five attempts.