Alexei Popyrin’s draw at Australian Open 2024 has been far from kind.
The 24-year-old faced fellow Aussie Marc Polmans, a friend and former doubles partner, in the opening round at John Cain Area.
After posting a 6-3 7-6(3) 6-2 victory in their all-Australian battle, Popyrin is now set to face world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
In other results on Monday, Jordan Thompson came through another all-Aussie match-up – his was a five-set win over Aleksandar Vukic – to join Popyrin in round two, while 10th seed Alex de Minaur got past an injured Milos Raonic.
Qualifier Storm Hunter extended her winning streak to four matches thanks to a straight-sets win over Sara Errani – her first ever main-draw win at Melbourne Park.
Popyrin advances
Popyrin has played the 10-time Australian Open champion just once before, at an ATP tournament at Tokyo in 2019.
“I’m looking forward to playing him,” Popyrin said of his looming match with Djokovic.
“I’ve watched (Novak) play since I was a kid … I last played him when I was 19. I’ve improved since then, so we’ll see what I can bring.”
Popyrin gained valuable momentum from his first-round win against world No.154 Polmans.
The world No.43 fired 56 winners to 22 and did not lose a service game across the two-hour and 28-minute encounter.
This effort helps snap a four-match losing streak at Grand Slam level for Australia’s No.2-ranked man.
Popyrin has three times previously reached the third round of the Australian Open – in 2019, 2020 and 2023.
Thompson to face Tsitsipas
Pushed until the end, Thompson eventually prevailed 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 3-6 6-4 over Vukic in four hours and eight minutes.
It is the seventh five-set win of 29-year-old Thompson’s career and his first on hard court since 2017.
In a gruelling deciding set, it remained on serve for the first nine games. However, Thompson’s big-match experience shone through in the final stages; he broke in the 10th game to seal a hard-fought victory.
He will take on Australian Open 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round – a rematch of their second-round battle at Indian Wells last year, which Thompson won in three sets.
Thompson’s countrymen Omar Jasika and James Duckworth exited the tournament on Monday, with Duckworth pipped in five by rising French star Luca Van Assche.
So too did Rinky Hijikata, who pushed 24th seed Jan-Lennard Struff to the limit before succumbing in a five-set epic after midnight.
Hunter celebrates breakthrough
In her sixth main-draw appearance at her home Grand Slam, Hunter made her long-awaited breakthrough with a 6-4 6-3 triumph against Italian Errani.
“It means everything,” beamed Hunter, the world No.180 in singles.
“I grew up watching the Australian Open and dreaming of playing here. I’ve had a lot of opportunities. I’m a little bit older, so I’ve played a few main draws and never got the win.
“To come through qualifying and win my first round in singles, it’s a dream come true. I’ve kind of been waiting for it for a few years, so very happy to get it done here today.”
Errani, currently ranked No.101, is a former world No.5 and Roland Garros finalist, the same year she reached the AO 2012 quarterfinals.
But it was the Aussie who dictated their 89-minute encounter, striking 44 winners to Errani’s 19.
This effort propels Hunter into a second-round showdown with Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
“I’m just enjoying every moment out here,” Hunter said. “To be able to do it in singles as well, it means I have a big schedule now – singles, doubles and mixed.
“But bring it on, it’s a lot of fun.”
Hunter’s compatriots Taylah Preston and Daria Saville bowed out in the first round, with Saville losing a heartbreaker to Poland’s Magdalena Frech, 7-5 in the third set.