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Breakthrough win for Aussie Alexei Popyrin

5 years ago

3 minute read

Promising Australian teenager Alexei Popyrin has celebrated a milestone victory on the ATP Tour by beating compatriot Matthew Ebden in Switzerland.

MATTHEW EBDEN of Australia plays a forehand in his match against Frances Tiafoe of the USA during the Brisbane International at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia.
MATTHEW EBDEN of Australia plays a forehand in his match against Frances Tiafoe of the USA during the Brisbane International at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Australian tennis has another young gun on an upward trajectory after Sydney teenager Alexei Popyrin claimed his first main draw victory on the ATP Tour.

Popyrin overcame compatriot Matthew Ebden in the first round of the Swiss Indoors in Basel on Wednesday (AEDT) to book a potential showdown with Germany's world No.5 Alexander Zverev, who plays Dutchman Robin Haase.

The 19-year-old racked up 12 aces to shade Ebden 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to strengthen his claim for a wildcard berth for January's Australian Open, a tournament he debuted at this year.

Popyrin, who won the French Open boys championship in 2017, advanced to the main draw by beating world No.58 Benoit Paire and promising American Mackenzie Macdonald in qualifying.

Currently ranked 174 in the world, Popyrin is now poised to break into the ATP's top-150 players on the back of his exploits at one of Roger Federer's favourite tournaments.

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