Popyrin ready to crash through Paul's iron man barrier
Alexei Popyrin believes the lessons he gleaned after the best win of his soaring career over Novak Djokovic will stand him in good stead as he now shoots for his first grand slam quarter-final.
But Australia's No.2 has dismissed the idea he'll have an advantage over his French Open fourth-round opponent Tommy Paul, who's had to battle through two successive gruelling five-setters, as he hailed the American iron man as one of the fittest players on tour.
Popyrin had his finest grand slam moment when he beat the mighty Djokovic at the US Open last August in the third round, but couldn't back up that win when then bowing out to Frances Tiafoe in his first fourth-round date.
But he fancies things are very different this time as he goes into the last-16 "feeling quite good" physically and mentally after winning his three matches in seven hours seven minutes, having spent over three-and-a-half hours less time on court than Paul.
The rich Flushing Meadows experience, reckoned Popyrin, had been hugely valuable.
"I know how I'm going to be feeling in the fourth round of a slam now," said the 25-year-old Sydneysider.
Going into the fourth round against Tiafoe, I had no idea how I was going to feel, especially coming off a match like the third round against Novak. You get the emotional highs, then you top that off with the physical stress.
"That's something I can kind of learn from, which I have.
"But I'm feeling quite good, considering the circumstances of it being a fourth round of a slam, and hopefully I can keep feeling that way."
He's taking little comfort from the fact that the seemingly tireless world No.12 Paul has played 14 sets over 10 hours and 45 minutes so far.
"I think Tommy's one of the fittest guys on tour," said Popyrin.
"The work he puts in the gym, and puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out and play normal. For me, it's very important not to think about the fact that he's played two five-setters in a row.
"I have to keep focusing on myself, on the way I've been playing for the last two weeks and trying to bring that consistent level again. That's the most important thing for me."
North Carolinan Paul, at 28, is at the peak of his powers, and savours the idea of being the tennis iron man on court. Bring on the five-setters, his demeanour screams.
"I work really hard off court and on court - we get after it, we feel kind of prepped for this kind of stuff," he said of going the distance.
But Popyrin has serious weapons, he accepts, particularly with his serve ticking over so nicely he still hasn't dropped a set so far.
"Everyone saw last year him in the Canadian Open win, he played unbelievable tennis there. That's what he's capable of. He can take the racquet out of your hand sometimes," shrugged Paul.
"Hopefully, I can use the clay to my advantage and kind of slow things down a little bit. I'm just excited to play. I mean, this is grand slam tennis, this is why we play the sport."
Alexei Popyrin believes the lessons he gleaned after the best win of his soaring career over Novak Djokovic will stand him in good stead as he now shoots for his first grand slam quarter-final.
But Australia's No.2 has dismissed the idea he'll have an advantage over his French Open fourth-round opponent Tommy Paul, who's had to battle through two successive gruelling five-setters, as he hailed the American iron man as one of the fittest players on tour.
Popyrin had his finest grand slam moment when he beat the mighty Djokovic at the US Open last August in the third round, but couldn't back up that win when then bowing out to Frances Tiafoe in his first fourth-round date.
But he fancies things are very different this time as he goes into the last-16 "feeling quite good" physically and mentally after winning his three matches in seven hours seven minutes, having spent over three-and-a-half hours less time on court than Paul.
The rich Flushing Meadows experience, reckoned Popyrin, had been hugely valuable.
"I know how I'm going to be feeling in the fourth round of a slam now," said the 25-year-old Sydneysider.
Going into the fourth round against Tiafoe, I had no idea how I was going to feel, especially coming off a match like the third round against Novak. You get the emotional highs, then you top that off with the physical stress.
"That's something I can kind of learn from, which I have.
"But I'm feeling quite good, considering the circumstances of it being a fourth round of a slam, and hopefully I can keep feeling that way."
He's taking little comfort from the fact that the seemingly tireless world No.12 Paul has played 14 sets over 10 hours and 45 minutes so far.
"I think Tommy's one of the fittest guys on tour," said Popyrin.
"The work he puts in the gym, and puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out and play normal. For me, it's very important not to think about the fact that he's played two five-setters in a row.
"I have to keep focusing on myself, on the way I've been playing for the last two weeks and trying to bring that consistent level again. That's the most important thing for me."
North Carolinan Paul, at 28, is at the peak of his powers, and savours the idea of being the tennis iron man on court. Bring on the five-setters, his demeanour screams.
"I work really hard off court and on court - we get after it, we feel kind of prepped for this kind of stuff," he said of going the distance.
But Popyrin has serious weapons, he accepts, particularly with his serve ticking over so nicely he still hasn't dropped a set so far.
"Everyone saw last year him in the Canadian Open win, he played unbelievable tennis there. That's what he's capable of. He can take the racquet out of your hand sometimes," shrugged Paul.
"Hopefully, I can use the clay to my advantage and kind of slow things down a little bit. I'm just excited to play. I mean, this is grand slam tennis, this is why we play the sport."
Alexei Popyrin believes the lessons he gleaned after the best win of his soaring career over Novak Djokovic will stand him in good stead as he now shoots for his first grand slam quarter-final.
But Australia's No.2 has dismissed the idea he'll have an advantage over his French Open fourth-round opponent Tommy Paul, who's had to battle through two successive gruelling five-setters, as he hailed the American iron man as one of the fittest players on tour.
Popyrin had his finest grand slam moment when he beat the mighty Djokovic at the US Open last August in the third round, but couldn't back up that win when then bowing out to Frances Tiafoe in his first fourth-round date.
But he fancies things are very different this time as he goes into the last-16 "feeling quite good" physically and mentally after winning his three matches in seven hours seven minutes, having spent over three-and-a-half hours less time on court than Paul.
The rich Flushing Meadows experience, reckoned Popyrin, had been hugely valuable.
"I know how I'm going to be feeling in the fourth round of a slam now," said the 25-year-old Sydneysider.
Going into the fourth round against Tiafoe, I had no idea how I was going to feel, especially coming off a match like the third round against Novak. You get the emotional highs, then you top that off with the physical stress.
"That's something I can kind of learn from, which I have.
"But I'm feeling quite good, considering the circumstances of it being a fourth round of a slam, and hopefully I can keep feeling that way."
He's taking little comfort from the fact that the seemingly tireless world No.12 Paul has played 14 sets over 10 hours and 45 minutes so far.
"I think Tommy's one of the fittest guys on tour," said Popyrin.
"The work he puts in the gym, and puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out and play normal. For me, it's very important not to think about the fact that he's played two five-setters in a row.
"I have to keep focusing on myself, on the way I've been playing for the last two weeks and trying to bring that consistent level again. That's the most important thing for me."
North Carolinan Paul, at 28, is at the peak of his powers, and savours the idea of being the tennis iron man on court. Bring on the five-setters, his demeanour screams.
"I work really hard off court and on court - we get after it, we feel kind of prepped for this kind of stuff," he said of going the distance.
But Popyrin has serious weapons, he accepts, particularly with his serve ticking over so nicely he still hasn't dropped a set so far.
"Everyone saw last year him in the Canadian Open win, he played unbelievable tennis there. That's what he's capable of. He can take the racquet out of your hand sometimes," shrugged Paul.
"Hopefully, I can use the clay to my advantage and kind of slow things down a little bit. I'm just excited to play. I mean, this is grand slam tennis, this is why we play the sport."
Alexei Popyrin believes the lessons he gleaned after the best win of his soaring career over Novak Djokovic will stand him in good stead as he now shoots for his first grand slam quarter-final.
But Australia's No.2 has dismissed the idea he'll have an advantage over his French Open fourth-round opponent Tommy Paul, who's had to battle through two successive gruelling five-setters, as he hailed the American iron man as one of the fittest players on tour.
Popyrin had his finest grand slam moment when he beat the mighty Djokovic at the US Open last August in the third round, but couldn't back up that win when then bowing out to Frances Tiafoe in his first fourth-round date.
But he fancies things are very different this time as he goes into the last-16 "feeling quite good" physically and mentally after winning his three matches in seven hours seven minutes, having spent over three-and-a-half hours less time on court than Paul.
The rich Flushing Meadows experience, reckoned Popyrin, had been hugely valuable.
"I know how I'm going to be feeling in the fourth round of a slam now," said the 25-year-old Sydneysider.
Going into the fourth round against Tiafoe, I had no idea how I was going to feel, especially coming off a match like the third round against Novak. You get the emotional highs, then you top that off with the physical stress.
"That's something I can kind of learn from, which I have.
"But I'm feeling quite good, considering the circumstances of it being a fourth round of a slam, and hopefully I can keep feeling that way."
He's taking little comfort from the fact that the seemingly tireless world No.12 Paul has played 14 sets over 10 hours and 45 minutes so far.
"I think Tommy's one of the fittest guys on tour," said Popyrin.
"The work he puts in the gym, and puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out and play normal. For me, it's very important not to think about the fact that he's played two five-setters in a row.
"I have to keep focusing on myself, on the way I've been playing for the last two weeks and trying to bring that consistent level again. That's the most important thing for me."
North Carolinan Paul, at 28, is at the peak of his powers, and savours the idea of being the tennis iron man on court. Bring on the five-setters, his demeanour screams.
"I work really hard off court and on court - we get after it, we feel kind of prepped for this kind of stuff," he said of going the distance.
But Popyrin has serious weapons, he accepts, particularly with his serve ticking over so nicely he still hasn't dropped a set so far.
"Everyone saw last year him in the Canadian Open win, he played unbelievable tennis there. That's what he's capable of. He can take the racquet out of your hand sometimes," shrugged Paul.
"Hopefully, I can use the clay to my advantage and kind of slow things down a little bit. I'm just excited to play. I mean, this is grand slam tennis, this is why we play the sport."
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
How Swede it is: Stark wins US Women's Open
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Despite never seriously threatening, Green was encouraged by her best-ever US Open result and hopes to carry the form into next month's PGA Championship, the third women's major of 2025. "I felt like I hit the ball really well," Green said. "Hit a couple of loose shots coming into the back nine. The bogeys on 16 and 17 hurt, but overall a solid week. It's nice to build on this form. "KPMG coming up soon as well so hopefully I can take that into those events. "I haven't really played a whole lot this year and played many events in a row so I'm trying to use this momentum." Minjee Lee finished joint 22nd after starting the day in equal sixth and just four shots behind the frontrunning Stark. Three straight bogeys on the front nine cruelled Lee's chances of adding a second US Open title to her collection after winning three years ago. The dual major champion ultimately signed for a round of 77 to slump to two over for the tournament. No other Australians even made the halfway cut. Swede Maja Stark is savouring an unimaginable maiden major championship after the Australian final-round charge failed to materialise at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Barely challenged down the stretch, Stark closed with a even-par 72 at Erin Hills golf club to cruise to a two-shot victory over world No.1 Nelly Korda and Japan's Rio Takeda. The 25-year-old finished with a seven-under 281 total to pocket a cheque for $US2.4 million ($A3.7 million), the richest prize in women's golf. Stark is the sixth Swede to win a women's major, and the first since Anna Nordqvist at the 2021 British Open. The former Oklahoma State player is the also first Swede to win a US Women's Open since the great three-time victor Annika Sorenstam in 2006 and only the third ever along with Liselotte Neumann in 1988. "It feels so surreal, and it felt like it was so far away just a couple of weeks ago," Stark said. "Just last week, my confidence was so low, and then I had a special friend tell me that you need to be confident. You need to trust yourself, and that's what I try to do. I try to make myself and everyone on my team proud." Korda posted a final-round 71 to share second with Takeda (72) at five under. Despite her disappointment, Korda's joint runner-up showing is still as close as the 26-year-old has come to winning a US Women's Open. Her best previous finish was a tie for eighth behind Lee in 2022 at Pine Needles. South Korean Hye-Jin Choi (68), China's Ruoning Yin (70) and Japanese Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth at four under. Hannah Green wound up as the leading Australian, in a tie for 13th at one under following a final-round 72. The world No.8 climbed to three under and into the top 10 before dropping two shots in her last three holes on Sunday (Monday AEST). Despite never seriously threatening, Green was encouraged by her best-ever US Open result and hopes to carry the form into next month's PGA Championship, the third women's major of 2025. "I felt like I hit the ball really well," Green said. "Hit a couple of loose shots coming into the back nine. The bogeys on 16 and 17 hurt, but overall a solid week. It's nice to build on this form. "KPMG coming up soon as well so hopefully I can take that into those events. "I haven't really played a whole lot this year and played many events in a row so I'm trying to use this momentum." Minjee Lee finished joint 22nd after starting the day in equal sixth and just four shots behind the frontrunning Stark. Three straight bogeys on the front nine cruelled Lee's chances of adding a second US Open title to her collection after winning three years ago. The dual major champion ultimately signed for a round of 77 to slump to two over for the tournament. No other Australians even made the halfway cut. Swede Maja Stark is savouring an unimaginable maiden major championship after the Australian final-round charge failed to materialise at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Barely challenged down the stretch, Stark closed with a even-par 72 at Erin Hills golf club to cruise to a two-shot victory over world No.1 Nelly Korda and Japan's Rio Takeda. The 25-year-old finished with a seven-under 281 total to pocket a cheque for $US2.4 million ($A3.7 million), the richest prize in women's golf. Stark is the sixth Swede to win a women's major, and the first since Anna Nordqvist at the 2021 British Open. The former Oklahoma State player is the also first Swede to win a US Women's Open since the great three-time victor Annika Sorenstam in 2006 and only the third ever along with Liselotte Neumann in 1988. "It feels so surreal, and it felt like it was so far away just a couple of weeks ago," Stark said. "Just last week, my confidence was so low, and then I had a special friend tell me that you need to be confident. You need to trust yourself, and that's what I try to do. I try to make myself and everyone on my team proud." Korda posted a final-round 71 to share second with Takeda (72) at five under. Despite her disappointment, Korda's joint runner-up showing is still as close as the 26-year-old has come to winning a US Women's Open. Her best previous finish was a tie for eighth behind Lee in 2022 at Pine Needles. South Korean Hye-Jin Choi (68), China's Ruoning Yin (70) and Japanese Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth at four under. Hannah Green wound up as the leading Australian, in a tie for 13th at one under following a final-round 72. The world No.8 climbed to three under and into the top 10 before dropping two shots in her last three holes on Sunday (Monday AEST). Despite never seriously threatening, Green was encouraged by her best-ever US Open result and hopes to carry the form into next month's PGA Championship, the third women's major of 2025. "I felt like I hit the ball really well," Green said. "Hit a couple of loose shots coming into the back nine. The bogeys on 16 and 17 hurt, but overall a solid week. It's nice to build on this form. "KPMG coming up soon as well so hopefully I can take that into those events. "I haven't really played a whole lot this year and played many events in a row so I'm trying to use this momentum." Minjee Lee finished joint 22nd after starting the day in equal sixth and just four shots behind the frontrunning Stark. Three straight bogeys on the front nine cruelled Lee's chances of adding a second US Open title to her collection after winning three years ago. The dual major champion ultimately signed for a round of 77 to slump to two over for the tournament. No other Australians even made the halfway cut. Swede Maja Stark is savouring an unimaginable maiden major championship after the Australian final-round charge failed to materialise at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Barely challenged down the stretch, Stark closed with a even-par 72 at Erin Hills golf club to cruise to a two-shot victory over world No.1 Nelly Korda and Japan's Rio Takeda. The 25-year-old finished with a seven-under 281 total to pocket a cheque for $US2.4 million ($A3.7 million), the richest prize in women's golf. Stark is the sixth Swede to win a women's major, and the first since Anna Nordqvist at the 2021 British Open. The former Oklahoma State player is the also first Swede to win a US Women's Open since the great three-time victor Annika Sorenstam in 2006 and only the third ever along with Liselotte Neumann in 1988. "It feels so surreal, and it felt like it was so far away just a couple of weeks ago," Stark said. "Just last week, my confidence was so low, and then I had a special friend tell me that you need to be confident. You need to trust yourself, and that's what I try to do. I try to make myself and everyone on my team proud." Korda posted a final-round 71 to share second with Takeda (72) at five under. Despite her disappointment, Korda's joint runner-up showing is still as close as the 26-year-old has come to winning a US Women's Open. Her best previous finish was a tie for eighth behind Lee in 2022 at Pine Needles. South Korean Hye-Jin Choi (68), China's Ruoning Yin (70) and Japanese Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth at four under. Hannah Green wound up as the leading Australian, in a tie for 13th at one under following a final-round 72. The world No.8 climbed to three under and into the top 10 before dropping two shots in her last three holes on Sunday (Monday AEST). Despite never seriously threatening, Green was encouraged by her best-ever US Open result and hopes to carry the form into next month's PGA Championship, the third women's major of 2025. "I felt like I hit the ball really well," Green said. "Hit a couple of loose shots coming into the back nine. The bogeys on 16 and 17 hurt, but overall a solid week. It's nice to build on this form. "KPMG coming up soon as well so hopefully I can take that into those events. "I haven't really played a whole lot this year and played many events in a row so I'm trying to use this momentum." Minjee Lee finished joint 22nd after starting the day in equal sixth and just four shots behind the frontrunning Stark. Three straight bogeys on the front nine cruelled Lee's chances of adding a second US Open title to her collection after winning three years ago. The dual major champion ultimately signed for a round of 77 to slump to two over for the tournament. No other Australians even made the halfway cut.
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4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Cruz Hewitt loses in Paris but dad would be proud
Cruz Hewitt has rekindled memories of his dad Lleyton's battling heyday as he went down fighting in his first-round contest in the boys' event at the French Open. The 16-year-old son of Australia's former world No.1, who had gone through qualifying to make the event at Roland Garros, proved a handful on Sunday for Italian Pierluigi Basile, two years his senior and higher-placed in the world junior standings, before succumbing 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-3. Hewitt lost the tightest of opening sets on a breaker and looked practically down and out as Basile served for the match at 5-3 in the second set and earned a match point at 5-4, but the Sydney youngster fought tigerishly to turn it around and take the match into a decider. The Italian had the superior firepower but Hewitt wouldn't lie down, revving up the the galleries packed round the tight court No.4 with the sort of crowd-rousing exhortations taken straight from his father's book. Ultimately, he lost in two hours 10 minutes, unable to reach the second round as he had done at the junior event in January at the Australian Open, where he also lost in the first round in the qualifiers for the senior event. On Monday, 16-year-old Emerson Jones, the world's No.2 female junior, kicks off her campaign as top seed in the girls' event against US qualifier Capucine Jauffret, while the other Australian in the boys' tournament Ty Host will face US sixth seed Benjamin Willwerth. Hewitt wasn't the only son of a famous player to feature in Sunday's program, with fifth seed Jagger Leach, whose mother is American former triple grand slam winner Lindsay Davenport, beating Kazakh Zangar Nurlanuly 6-1 1-6 6-0. Cruz Hewitt has rekindled memories of his dad Lleyton's battling heyday as he went down fighting in his first-round contest in the boys' event at the French Open. The 16-year-old son of Australia's former world No.1, who had gone through qualifying to make the event at Roland Garros, proved a handful on Sunday for Italian Pierluigi Basile, two years his senior and higher-placed in the world junior standings, before succumbing 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-3. Hewitt lost the tightest of opening sets on a breaker and looked practically down and out as Basile served for the match at 5-3 in the second set and earned a match point at 5-4, but the Sydney youngster fought tigerishly to turn it around and take the match into a decider. The Italian had the superior firepower but Hewitt wouldn't lie down, revving up the the galleries packed round the tight court No.4 with the sort of crowd-rousing exhortations taken straight from his father's book. Ultimately, he lost in two hours 10 minutes, unable to reach the second round as he had done at the junior event in January at the Australian Open, where he also lost in the first round in the qualifiers for the senior event. On Monday, 16-year-old Emerson Jones, the world's No.2 female junior, kicks off her campaign as top seed in the girls' event against US qualifier Capucine Jauffret, while the other Australian in the boys' tournament Ty Host will face US sixth seed Benjamin Willwerth. Hewitt wasn't the only son of a famous player to feature in Sunday's program, with fifth seed Jagger Leach, whose mother is American former triple grand slam winner Lindsay Davenport, beating Kazakh Zangar Nurlanuly 6-1 1-6 6-0. Cruz Hewitt has rekindled memories of his dad Lleyton's battling heyday as he went down fighting in his first-round contest in the boys' event at the French Open. The 16-year-old son of Australia's former world No.1, who had gone through qualifying to make the event at Roland Garros, proved a handful on Sunday for Italian Pierluigi Basile, two years his senior and higher-placed in the world junior standings, before succumbing 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-3. Hewitt lost the tightest of opening sets on a breaker and looked practically down and out as Basile served for the match at 5-3 in the second set and earned a match point at 5-4, but the Sydney youngster fought tigerishly to turn it around and take the match into a decider. The Italian had the superior firepower but Hewitt wouldn't lie down, revving up the the galleries packed round the tight court No.4 with the sort of crowd-rousing exhortations taken straight from his father's book. Ultimately, he lost in two hours 10 minutes, unable to reach the second round as he had done at the junior event in January at the Australian Open, where he also lost in the first round in the qualifiers for the senior event. On Monday, 16-year-old Emerson Jones, the world's No.2 female junior, kicks off her campaign as top seed in the girls' event against US qualifier Capucine Jauffret, while the other Australian in the boys' tournament Ty Host will face US sixth seed Benjamin Willwerth. Hewitt wasn't the only son of a famous player to feature in Sunday's program, with fifth seed Jagger Leach, whose mother is American former triple grand slam winner Lindsay Davenport, beating Kazakh Zangar Nurlanuly 6-1 1-6 6-0. Cruz Hewitt has rekindled memories of his dad Lleyton's battling heyday as he went down fighting in his first-round contest in the boys' event at the French Open. The 16-year-old son of Australia's former world No.1, who had gone through qualifying to make the event at Roland Garros, proved a handful on Sunday for Italian Pierluigi Basile, two years his senior and higher-placed in the world junior standings, before succumbing 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-3. Hewitt lost the tightest of opening sets on a breaker and looked practically down and out as Basile served for the match at 5-3 in the second set and earned a match point at 5-4, but the Sydney youngster fought tigerishly to turn it around and take the match into a decider. The Italian had the superior firepower but Hewitt wouldn't lie down, revving up the the galleries packed round the tight court No.4 with the sort of crowd-rousing exhortations taken straight from his father's book. Ultimately, he lost in two hours 10 minutes, unable to reach the second round as he had done at the junior event in January at the Australian Open, where he also lost in the first round in the qualifiers for the senior event. On Monday, 16-year-old Emerson Jones, the world's No.2 female junior, kicks off her campaign as top seed in the girls' event against US qualifier Capucine Jauffret, while the other Australian in the boys' tournament Ty Host will face US sixth seed Benjamin Willwerth. Hewitt wasn't the only son of a famous player to feature in Sunday's program, with fifth seed Jagger Leach, whose mother is American former triple grand slam winner Lindsay Davenport, beating Kazakh Zangar Nurlanuly 6-1 1-6 6-0.
