Belated spotlight on Popyrin as he charges into last 16 at Roland-Garros

Sydney Morning Herald

30-05-2025

Dressed in fluorescent pink hat, shorts and shoes, and with a racquet to match, Borges eliminated wounded dual finalist Casper Ruud in four sets in the previous round. He also advanced to the fourth round at the Australian Open and US Open last year, so is a serious player.
Borges already made tennis history this fortnight with countryman and qualifier Henrique Rocha when they became the first two Portuguese players to reach the round of 32 at the same grand slam.
But this day belonged to Popyrin, even as Borges launched rearguard action late in the second set to twice break back when the Australian tried to serve for a two-set lead.
Popyrin had played an almost spotless match until he dropped serve on the first of those occasions, but then had to dig deep as Borges took fresh aim at his weaker backhand wing, which has been under construction from his new co-coach Wayne Ferreira.
Popyrin's other coach, Neville Godwin, who shared the job with Xavier Malisse until March when Malisse chose to part ways with Popyrin, was front and centre on Friday for one of the Australian's most significant wins.
It took 77 minutes and until Popyrin's sixth set point – after saving two that Borges held – on the 24th point of an engrossing and rollercoaster tiebreak for him to finally earn that two-set advantage.
The tiebreak result loomed large in the bigger picture of the match, but de Minaur's slip-up from the same lead a day earlier, and Borges' increasing ability to create opportunities in Popyrin's service games, meant there was still work to do.
With de Minaur's mother Esther among those urging him on from courtside, Popyrin fended off a break point in each of his second and third service games in the third set as Borges tried to make his move.
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Popyrin did not lose a point on his first serve until midway through the second set, but his percentage plummeted under heightened pressure, which made him have to work harder for holds. However, this version of Popyrin is up for the battle and more willing to be patient, which he reflected on after his last match.
'I think I can go ultra-aggressive, and that's my go to when I'm not feeling good – to go for more ... [I am learning to rein] it back a little bit,' Popyrin said after defeating Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
The next key moments came in the 10th game of the set, when Borges twice faltered to hand Popyrin separate match points – but both went begging without serious threat.
In a seesawing war of attrition, Popyrin offered a break point of his own in the next game, but sent down three consecutive aces to escape.