Alexei Popyrin’s night at Melbourne Park ended in a tangle of missed chances, tears and public questioning about the future of his tennis.
The 26-year-old looked shattered after a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-4) defeat by Alexandre Muller, and he warned that, quote, it “can’t keep going on like this” as he wrestled with form and feeling.
Melbourne drama: how a lead slipped away
I don’t know. I don’t know.
Alexei Popyrin
Popyrin looked in command through large stretches, even firing down a barrage of big serves, but the match swung in the blink of an eye during crucial tiebreak moments and late set play under the lights at John Cain Arena.
He squandered multiple chances when it mattered, most glaringly when he served for the match at 5-3 in the fifth set and again failed to close the door in tiebreak play, allowing Muller to seize the final points.
The scoreboard recorded a test of nerve: Popyrin led through parts of the fourth set and went up 4-2 there, then 5-2 in the tiebreak, only for the momentum to slip and the match to head into a decisive 10-point tiebreak.
There were some hard numbers to underline the contrast between power and outcome: Popyrin hammered down 40 aces on the night but still fell in a five-set thriller that hinged on a handful of points and a lot of pressure.
He even required treatment on his calf during the match, describing it as a pre-existing issue that “kind of flared up there,” and he admitted the combination of nerves and exertion contributed to cramping on a court where cramp has haunted him before.
Popyrin did not hide his disappointment in the press room, saying, “Disappointment. Yeah, obviously not happy. Felt like I was in control nearly all the match. Couldn’t close it out. That’s about it,” while also pointing to positives he hoped to salvage.
Form, ranking and a rough run
The loss capped a brutal Australian swing after the 26-year-old suffered first-round exits in Brisbane and Adelaide, and it followed a difficult 2025 with injury and a mental health break disrupting momentum and confidence.
His season-long slide is obvious in the numbers: a peak ranking of 19th last August tumbled to 54th by the end of the year, a fall that has forced tough questions about recovery and direction heading into the rest of the season.
Popyrin acknowledged the need to reflect, saying he feels he does the work yet the results are not coming, and admitted he may need to “look deep inside” to figure out why the run of poor outcomes has persisted.
Next steps and the long view
Decisive and pragmatic, Popyrin announced he would sit out Australia’s upcoming Davis Cup qualifier against Ecuador to prioritize his individual calendar and attempt to claw back ranking points and form in less pressure filled events.
He said, “Nothing beats playing for your country, but at the same time I have to think about my year,” signaling a choice to manage workload and target recovery rather than rush back into national duty while struggling on tour.
The broader context matters: Popyrin’s collapse in Melbourne is not just one match, it is a chapter in a season that included injury, a failed title defense at the Canadian Open, and the psychological toll of inconsistent results and public expectation.
Coaches, supporters and the player himself now face the familiar tennis prescription of tactical tweaks, physical care and mental reset, and Popyrin will likely be measured in small returns rather than headline-grabbing comebacks as he rebuilds.
For the crowd who wanted fireworks and for a player who wanted to reward them, the scene was painful and painfully honest, but it may also be the reset point that forces deeper changes and a clearer plan for 2026.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
