No Ruud awakening awaits as Popyrin powers on in Paris
Ian Chadband |
Buoyant Alexei Popyrin feels he can beat anybody after breaking new ground at the French Open – but he won’t have to worry about taking down two-time finalist Casper Ruud in the next round after the Norwegian star’s shock injury-hit exit.
Popyrin’s early-year struggles felt like ancient history as he brightened up a gloomy day in Paris on a wet Wednesday to conquer Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 7-5 6-3 6-4 – and also beat the rain – to set up a third-round date at Roland Garros for the first time.
He had probably expected the last-32 contest to be against Casper Ruud, finalist in both 2022 and 2023, but the Norwegian dropped 13 of his last 14 games in a 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-0 defeat to Portugal’s Nuno Borges while struggling with a left-knee injury.
With the No.7 seed gone, it opens up a huge opportunity for 25th seed Popyrin, even if there’s no way he’d underestimate world No.42 Borges, a top-30 player just last year. They’ve met twice at Challenger level, and it’s one-all.
But Popyrin is all smiles after delivering what he felt was the most solid performance of his up-and-down year and, under a new co-coach Wayne Ferreira, he’s found a new calm on court as well as a more effective, remodelled backhand.
“I’ve always had that confidence. On my day I can beat anybody, but that’s not important to me. What’s important to me is bringing a consistent level day in, day out. That’s what I’ve struggled with in the past,” he said.
Popyrin, who made history last year by becoming the first Australian in a generation to win a Masters 1000 event, the Canadian Open in Montreal, always held the initiative against Tabilo, a dangerous opponent on all surfaces who’s beaten Novak Djokovic twice on clay these past two seasons.
Rewarded for his more attacking approach against the southpaw counter-puncher, Popyrin was ahead in all the key departments, firing 37 winners to Tabilo’s 25, making 10 less unforced errors than the Chilean and breaking him six times to two.
Victorious in the boys’ championship at Roland Garros eight years ago, Popyrin appears to be flying after reaching quarter-finals in Monte Carlo and Geneva.
Having ended his six-match losing sequence at Roland Garros in the first round, he was also delighted to become the first Australian to advance to the last 32 this year – and so far without dropping a set.
But 30 seconds after he’d won on a drizzle-splattered outside court, Ajla Tomljanovic’s big date under the roof of nearby Court Phillippe Chatrier ended in a damp squib as she served up a limp double fault in a 6-3 6-3 loss to 2024 finalist and No.4 seed, Jasmine Paolini.
After her opening-round win over young Aussie star Maya Joint, the 32-year-old Tomljanovic had harboured some hopes that a similar all-out attack might take the bounce out of the diminutive Italian’s step, but was left conceding glumly: “I didn’t find my A game. It was a tough performance out there.”
Instead, Paolini was the main aggressor, maintaining the form that’s just driven her to become the first home Italian Open champ for 40 years.
Still, Tomljanovic, whose recent injury woes left her at her lowest at last year’s US Open, was just happy to be back on the big stage again.
“For sure (it’s given me a fillip). It’s really what I come to these tournaments for,” she said.
“My dad (coach Ratko) used to say ‘we’ve got 12 more of those grand slams you can play’. And now I know it’s not 12 anymore, the number is smaller.
“There were still moments where I played some good points, good games, and I definitely leave Paris feeling optimistic with happy memories again.”
And, of course, the grass is always greener. “Oh, I’m very excited,” the former two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist said, adding with a laugh. “Even today, I was like, ‘I can’t wait to get on the grass!'”
AAP
