- Alexei Popyrin won the Canadian Open in August
- Beat five top 20 players on your way to the title
- Seeded 25th at the 2025 Australian Open
Australian Alexei Popyrin has revealed how his striking title win in Montreal catapulted him into the world’s top 25 for the first time, but also saw him avoid sliding into the tennis wilderness.
Popyrin, 25, is seeded 25th at Melbourne Park after his ATP ranking shot up 62 to 23 in August last year when he became the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 to win an ATP Masters event.
The Sydney-raised star then stunned Novak Djokovic at the US Open to reach the fourth round, but Montreal was his second sliding door.
After reaching the quarterfinals at the 2023 Cincinnati Open, Popyrin risked sliding back to around 90 in the world rankings as he had significant ranking points to defend.
By upsetting five top-20 players to win the Canadian Open, the points he lost at the subsequent tournament in Cincinnati didn’t really matter.
“I keep saying Montreal was a huge tournament, not just because it was a Masters 1000 and I won it, but because if I hadn’t won a match in Montreal and Cincinnati I would have been ranked 90th in the world,” Popyrin said. reporters in Melbourne.
Alexei Popyrin has revealed how his eye-catching title win in Montreal kept him out of the tennis wilderness (pictured, with partner Amy)
Popyrin, 25, is seeded 25th at Melbourne Park after his ATP ranking rose from 62 to 23 in August last year when he became the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 to win an ATP Masters event
Popyrin defeated five top 20 players to win the Canadian Open in stunning fashion (photo)
“That’s the kind of pressure you play with in your head… the mentality you try to have is to put that away and just focus on the present. [his team] did that very well.
‘I think the top guys, if they find that kind of ‘click’ and find that confidence… they continue with that for the rest of their career.
“I think this is something I have to try to keep with me. I have to do it more consistently.’
Popyrin will face French world number 69 Corentin Moutet in the first round of the Open.
Last year he won their only previous meeting in three sets in Monte Carlo.
Next up could be a second round matchup with another local crowd favorite, Rinky Hijikata.
Popyrin is keen to return to the gritty John Cain Arena, a court where the crowd ‘brought him to tears’ in the 2023 second round as he claimed a shock five-set win over Taylor Fritz.
Popyrin will face French world number 69 Corentin Moutet in the first round at Melbourne Park
The win against the American star helped him put a horror 2022 behind him after Popyrin’s ranking drifted into the 130s.
He even needed a wildcard from the tournament organizers to play at the grand slam.
‘I experienced (the crowd) against Fritz a few years ago. That was just incredible… it’s a memory that will stay with me forever,” he said.
“That’s definitely what brings out the best in me, trying to put on a show for the home crowd.
‘We don’t get many opportunities for that. That’s just more motivation for me to go out there and try to put on a show for them and make them proud.”