Alexei Popyrin wins a five-set battle to advance to the third spherical at Wimbledon for the primary time in his profession.
London, Nice Britain, 5 July 2024 | Leigh Rogers
For the second time this season, Alexei Popyrin is ready to battle Novak Djokovic on the Grand Slam stage.
The 24-year-old Popyrin gallantly prolonged the then-world No.1 to 4 units within the second spherical on the Australian Open earlier this 12 months, now has the prospect to avenge that loss in Wimbledon’s third spherical.
Popyrin is having fun with a career-best run on the All England Membership, which he prolonged in the present day with a hard-fought 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory towards Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry at Court docket 11.
Popyrin tallied 65 winners, together with 17 aces, throughout the three-hour and 58-minute encounter.
“I used to be twice a set down, however at no level was I wanting confidence,” Popyrin stated.
“I used to be the one dictating. I used to be the one in command of the factors, so I used to be the one in command of how the match went.
“At no level was I confused that I’d lose the match.”
It’s the fourth five-set win of Popyrin’s profession and the primary he has recorded outdoors of the Australian Open.
At world No.31, Etcheverry additionally turns into the highest-ranked opponent that Popyrin has overwhelmed on grass all through his profession.
“It’s no secret that grass hasn’t been my favorite floor,” world No.47 Popyrin admitted earlier this week. “I believe this 12 months, it’s essentially the most snug I’ve felt on the grass in my complete profession. Motion smart, taking part in smart, I really feel like I do know what I’m doing on the market.”
That bodes nicely for his possibilities towards Djokovic, who is likely one of the most achieved grass-court gamers in historical past. The world No.2 is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and has received 47 of his previous 50 matches on the floor.
“It’s going to be enjoyable if it’s on Centre Court docket,” Popyrin stated of his upcoming match. “Hopefully it’s, as a result of I actually need to expertise that.”
Earlier in the present day, Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur scored a commanding win towards Spaniard Jaume Munar to additionally progress to the third spherical.
> READ: Dominant De Minaur advances to 3rd spherical at Wimbledon 2024
Aussies in motion – Wimbledon
RESULTS
Males’s singles, second spherical
[9] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-2 6-2 7-5
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) d [30] Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3
Francisco Comesana (ARG) d Adam Walton (AUS) 7-5 1-6 6-7(12) 6-1 7-6(8)
[Q] Lucas Pouille (FRA) d Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 2-6 7-5 5-2 ret.
Ladies’s singles, second spherical
[18] Marta Kostyuk (UKR) d Daria Saville (AUS) 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4
COMING UP
Males’s singles, third spherical
[9] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [Q] Lucas Pouille (FRA)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
> VIEW: Wimbledon 2024 males’s singles draw
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