3 minute read
Emerging Australian tennis star Alexei Popyrin has lost a pulsating five-set third-round clash with British seed Dan Evans at the US Open in New York.
A standing ovation was of little consolation to Alexei Popyrin after the emerging Australian suffered grand-slam heartbreak at Flushing Meadows.
Popyrin was left shattered after blowing a two-set advantage in a demoralising 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-1) third-round US Open loss to British 24th seed Dan Evans.
The defeat, after storming through the first two sets, denied Popyrin a place in the second week of a major for the first time and ended Australia's hopes in the men's singles.
Jordan Thompson suffered a similar demise from two sets up on Friday, leaving women's world No.1 Ash Barty and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic to fly the Australian flag in New York.
Popyrin couldn't disguise his devastation at falling in the third round of a slam for the fourth time.
"Shattered," he said.
"To be honest, where I was the last couple of weeks in terms of my game, I'm happy with the way I performed but the result is going to take time to get over.
"Yeah, shattered. Just pure disappointment that I couldn't get through."
The packed crowd on showcourt 17 rose as one and roared with appreciation after the rousing encounter featuring some incredible shot-making from both players finally finished after four hours and two minutes.
Popyrin, however, was in no mood to celebrate the high standard, the 22-year-old lamenting his serving blues rather than rejoicing about his impressive display of firepower and touch.
He blasted 77 winners to Evans' 48 and hammered 18 aces to the Englishman's six.
But Popyrin was also broken five times and coughed up 13 double-faults, including one on match point to hand Evans victory.
"My serving was just a bit of a shit show in the third and fourth set," he said.
"If I could have continued that serving in the third and fourth set, I probably would have won.
"My serving let me down."
In reality, Evans gave Popyrin nothing.
In an inspired display of focus and concentration, the world No.27 committed just eight unforced errors all match.
"I give full credit to Dan because he played an unbelievable match and stuck in there," Popyrin said.
"It was anyone's to take in that fifth set - he's high on confidence, I'm low on confidence - but I should have done better in the third and fourth sets.
"I had him where I wanted him but I just couldn't close it out."
Barty plays American Shelby Rogers on Sunday for her chance to make the last 16, while Tomljanovic takes on fourth-seeded Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.
HOW THE AUSSIES FARED ON DAY FIVE OF THE US OPEN (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
Men's singles, third round
Alexei Popyrin lost to 24-Dan Evans (GBR) 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-1)
AUSSIES IN ACTION ON SUNDAY (AEST):
Women's singles, third round
Ajla Tomljanovic v 4-Karolina Pliskova (CZE) - not before 5am
1-Ash Barty v Shelby Rogers (USA) - 9am
