Australian world No. 43 Alexei Popyrin will face Novak Djokovic within the second spherical of the Australian Open after profitable his all-Aussie showdown with native boy Marc Polmans in straight units on Monday.
The 24-year-old, who reached the third spherical of the Australian Open final yr with two marathon wins together with the second-round upset of eighth seed Taylor Fritz, smashed 56 winners to Polmans’ 22in a present of sturdy kind forward of his confrontation with Djokovic.
Popyrin was examined early by the wildcard in a big-serving show however finally broke his resistance to ebook a date with the world No. 1 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 victory.
It comes because the Serbian famous person revealed he was battling sickness main into his conflict towards Croatian teen Dino Prizmic on Sunday evening and stated he felt “underneath the climate” following the four-set win.
Although he stated the additional day’s relaxation earlier than the second-round match on Wednesday would depart him in a very good place to face his Australian opponent.
“Look, it’s what it’s. You simply must attempt to cope with it and recover from it and settle for the circumstances and attempt to profit from it,” Djokovic stated after the win.
“I’ll focus on with my staff tomorrow, see if I possibly skip apply tomorrow, tennis apply. Perhaps do some gentle work, fitness center, jog, some particular workouts simply to maintain my physique in form.
“I imply, final yr I haven’t practised in between any match actually. It was totally different circumstances as a result of I used to be injured. I feel now with two days, it’s fairly helpful after taking part in four-hour opening spherical.”
Popyrin made a powerful begin to his opening match, hitting 16 winners to seven as he took the primary set 6-3 inside 40 minutes.
He was compelled right into a second-set tie-break although as Polmans, cheered on by a dozen diehard supporters carrying his trademark legionnaires hat, discovered higher accuracy together with his first serve and denied his greater ranked opponent any break factors.
Popyrin received 4 consecutive factors from 3-3 to say the tie-break earlier than he scored an early break within the closing set, crushing Polmans’ resistance to finally break him in a marathon 10-minute recreation after the South African-born wildcard had already saved 4 break factors.
Popyrin took a medical time-out after that recreation but it surely was merely to patch up a blister on his left little toe which had started to bleed, and he confirmed no indicators of discomfort as he closed out the sport.
He stated after Thursday’s event draw he “knew what to anticipate” from Djokovic if he got here up towards him within the second spherical.
The pair’s solely assembly was on a tough court docket on the 2019 Japan Open the place Djokovic claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
“I’ve all the time had that type of confidence that I’ve received a stage to trigger bother to a whole lot of the highest guys,” Popyrin stated.
“It’s going to be an fascinating match if I can get there.”
