Alexei Popyrin joins Lleyton Hewitt in epic French Open feat after de Minaur surprise

Yahoo

a day ago

Alexei Popyrin has become just the third Aussie to reach the fourth round of the French Open since the turn of the millennium as he continues his Paris renaissance as the final Australian star standing. Popyrin became the only Aussie player at Roland Garros to reach the fourth round after defeating Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6 7-6.
Popyrin is yet to drop a set in Paris and his new-and-improved backhand under co-coach Wayne Ferreira has helped him thrive at the tournament he once excelled at as a junior. But even Popyrin was surprised to be the only Aussie male into the fourth round after Alex de Minaur was stunned a day earlier in a five-set capitulation at the hands of Alexander Bublik.
"We all expected Demon to be in the fourth round," Popyrin said after standing as the lone Aussie in the draw. "I don't think I could have thought that - Alex is probably the most consistent player on tour - but that's the case now. I'm only focusing on myself. I want to keep going as far as I can, that's all I'm thinking."
And Popyrin's feat has now seen him join some Aussie tennis legends having reached the fourth round at the French Open. Only 10 Aussie men have ever reached the fourth round or beyond and only three others have achieved this feat since 2000.
De Minaur made a career-best run last year when he made it to the quarter-final, while Aussie tennis icon Hewitt achieved the feat six times in his career. The latest coming back in 2007. And the only other Aussie to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros in that time period was Wayne Arthurs back in 2001.
Others to have achieved this feat are Pat Rafter and Pat Cash. Popyrin can equal de Minaur's career-best run with a win over American No.12 seed Tommy Paul in the next round.
Popyrin is just the 10th Aussie man to make the French Open 4th round in the last 40 years! Others have been: Popyrin 2025De Minaur 2024Hewitt 00,01,02,04,06,07Arthurs 01Stoltenberg 98Woodforde 97Philippoussis 97, 00Draper 95, 96Rafter 94, 97Cash 88#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/dY9iR8jEXH
— Dale Roberts (@ozdale) May 30, 2025
Popyrin admitted it was hot out on court in the Paris sun, but the sun was adnatageous for the big-serving Aussie who only dropped three points on his delivery in the opening set. And Popyrin admitted he gained plenty of confidence after winning both tiebreakers to keep the match to three sets.
"It was a really good match from my point. Happy I wrapped it up in three sets. It's really hot out there, really difficult conditions," said Popyrin. "I played the first set-and-a-half really, really solid, how I've been playing all week, but had a bit of a mental slip-up at the end of the second but managed to dig deep in the tiebreak.
"The third set was more a mental battle than a physical battle on my side trying to hold serve, and then trying to get opportunities on his return, which I had towards the end. But still managed to kind of keep my head and still play well in the tiebreak."
Popyrin is hoping some similar conditions can help him use his serve against Paul in the next round with the 2018 Roland Garros junior champion aware he can use the clay to his advantage.
Although the American claimed he will be ready to slow things down against the Aussie in the next round. "He played unbelievable tennis there (in the Canadian Open last year). That's what he's capable of. He can take the racquet out of your hand sometimes," Paul said. "Hopefully, I can use the clay to my advantage and kind of slow things down a little bit."