‘That’s f***ed’: Alexei Popyrin blows up at ‘ridiculous’ drama in win over World No. 5

Australia’s Alexei Popyrin has blown up in an X-rated rant on his way to another big win over a top 10 opponent at the Paris Masters.

Daniil Medvedev is still searching for his first ATP tournament victory this year after the world number five lost to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin for the first time in his career at the Paris Masters on Wednesday.

Medvedev won the Paris title in 2020 but has not found the indoor tournament to his liking in recent years — the defeat to Popyrin is the third successive time he has gone out in his opening round.

Popyrin, who has been on a rich vein of form this year, winning his first Masters tournament in Montreal in August and beating Novak Djokovic in the US Open, edged Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a gripping second round match.

But the victory came with some drama when Popyrin teed off after a brutal call from a line judge went against him midway through the deciding set.

The line judge called a deep volley from Popyrin out when it was in, forcing the point to be replayed and Popyrin to face a break point.

Watch Alexei Popyrin’s reaction to the umpiring call in the video above

Alexei Popyrin beat Daniil Medvedev. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

But he was not happy with an umpiring call. Photo: X.

A livid Popyrin approached the chair umpire and said: “So slow, and he calls it out. How can you call that ball out? This is f***ed. I don’t want to play. This is f***ed. This is ridiculous.”

The chair umpire conceded: “It’s a terrible call, I know. There is nothing I can do to help in this case.”

Oh my god what a point in Paris and what and error from the line judge.

“Thats’s a terrible call, I know”, says the umpire about the call from his line judge, which is very rare to see…

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 30, 2024

Popyrin regained his composure to hold serve and win the tie-break to close out the match.

For Popyrin, ranked 24 in the world, it was only his third win over a player in the top five.

“It is the first time I have beaten him (in four meetings),” said Popyrin.

“We have had some right old battles in the past and it is a real pleasure to have performed like this this time round.”

Popyrin took another big scalp. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Popyrin will next play Karen Khachanov after the Russian downed France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7 (12/14), 6-1, 6-4.

Medvedev, who has already qualified for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals next month, fought back twice in the deciding set.

He came back from 4-1 down to force a tie-break and then trailing 4-1 in that he levelled at 4-4.

However, with Popyrin leading 5-4, Medvedev double-faulted giving the 25-year-old Australian two match points and he wasted no time in sealing the victory on the first one.

Popyrin joins fellow Australians Jordan Thompson in the round of 16 in Paris.

Thompson takes on French veteran Adrian Mannarino and de Minaur faces Britain’s Jack Draper, who beat him at the US Open.

Originally published as ‘That’s f***ed’: Alexei Popyrin blows up at ‘ridiculous’ drama in win over World No. 5