Popyrin says he ‘can’t keep going on like this’ after crushing defeat

A shattered Alexei Popyrin has conceded his tennis “cannot hold happening like this” after a first-round Australian Open exit accomplished a nightmare summer season.

Popyrin slipped to a crushing five-set defeat to Frenchman Alexandre Muller at Melbourne Park on Monday evening.

He did not take a number of alternatives within the 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-4) defeat, which rounded out a brutal Australian swing.

The 26-year-old additionally suffered first-round exits on the Brisbane Worldwide and Adelaide Worldwide, following a tough finish to 2025.

Popyrin’s world rating dipped from a career-high nineteenth final August to 54th by yr’s finish, amid a psychological well being break, a again damage, and his failure to defend his 2024 Canadian Open crown.

When requested when he felt issues would flip, an emotional Popyrin’s voice wavered as he mentioned: “I do not know. I do not know.

“For me, it is actually powerful to take. I simply assume I do so much. I work so much. I take into consideration my profession so much.

“And to have outcomes like this and to have outcomes that I’ve had the final couple of months, and clearly to begin the yr, it isn’t simple to take, though I really feel like I am taking part in nicely and I really feel like I am doing every part that I need to do.

“Yeah, the outcomes are simply not coming, and I assume that is tennis typically.

“However when it retains taking place … possibly I’ve to take a look at myself and see and actually look deep inside as a result of it may’t hold happening like this.”

When up two units to at least one, Popyrin led 4-2 within the fourth set, after which 5-2 within the tiebreak.

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The 26-year-old, who fired down 40 aces, additionally served for the match at 5-3 within the fifth, however could not end off Muller, who received the 10-point match tiebreak.

“Disappointment. Yeah, clearly not completely happy. Felt like I used to be in management almost all of the match. Could not shut it out. That is about it,” Popyrin mentioned.

“I simply could not give you the of completion almost 3 times right this moment, and that is actually disappointing.

“However you may take a look at the positives.”

Popyrin had therapy on his calf however mentioned it was a pre-existing problem.

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He teared up as he lamented being unable to ship in entrance of the parochial John Cain Area crowd.

“It sort of flared up there. Then clearly with all of the nerves and the hype and every part like that … I normally do not cramp, but it surely’s now two years in a row that on this court docket I cramp,” he mentioned.

“I actually need to placed on a present and actually need to win for the group. They’re there for me, and I am unable to win. It isn’t simple.”

Popyrin mentioned he was sitting out Australia’s Davis Cup qualifying tie in opposition to Ecuador subsequent month to aim to claw his method again up the rankings.

“Nothing beats taking part in on your nation, however on the identical time I’ve to consider my yr,” he mentioned.

AAP