Nick Kyrgios believes Alexei Popyrin is on the cusp of one thing particular, tipping his fellow Australian for giant issues after his US Open run.
Ranked exterior the highest 50 a month in the past and by no means earlier than having ventured past the third spherical of a grand slam, Popyrin is being branded the brand new “Wizard of Oz” after slaying Novak Djokovic in one among tennis’s colossal upsets.
And Kyrgios was paying consideration, tipping Popyrin as being a future grand slam winner.
“I acquired a sense Pop is about to show right into a famous person,” Kyrgios wrote on X.
“Subsequent yr will likely be his finest yr.
“His consistency is one thing I used to be searching for my entire profession. Genuinely pleased, man.
“You will have what it takes to win a slam. Bro, go get it.”
Regardless of that approval marrying what Djokovic himself stated of his vanquisher, Popyrin is ignoring the hype, sticking stubbornly to his “keep within the now” mantra as Australia’s rising star continues his audacious quest for US Open glory.
With Djokovic becoming a member of reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz on the Open scrap heap, Popyrin has earned himself a severe alternative to go deep in New York.
The 25-year-old faces world quantity 20 Frances Tiafoe on Sunday (9am Monday AEST) for a spot within the final eight.
The victor will play both sixth seed Andrey Rublev, who Popyrin beat in final month’s Montreal Masters remaining, or ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov within the quarter-finals, with world quantity 4 Alexander Zverev the highest-ranked participant left within the backside half of the draw.
Popyrin is conscious of the rising pleasure however refusing to stray from the quick activity at hand.
“I am not pondering that far. I will provide the cliché reply I all the time give: It is all the time the subsequent match for me. I deal with the subsequent match and that is it,” he stated.
Alexei Popyrin beat Novak Djokovic in 4 units within the third spherical. (AP Picture: Julia Nikhinson)
“My focus is on Frances. If I get previous that, then we’ll deal with the subsequent one.
“The most important half about Montreal was I used to be capable of again up massive wins. For me, that is one thing that I’ve actually needed to work on.
“I’ve had the aptitude of successful a giant match however not having the ability to again it up. This week and Montreal I used to be in a position to try this.
“Hopefully I can proceed it this week as a result of that is most likely the most important win of my profession to date, ranking-wise [beating Djokovic].”
Tiafoe looms as a formidable problem.
A semi-finalist two years in the past, when he misplaced to eventual champion Alcaraz, and quarter-finalist in 2023, the American loves the large stage, taking part in in entrance of house followers at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tiafoe’s showdown with Popyrin has not surprisingly been afforded the prime time slot on Sunday evening in New York.
“He is truly a extremely good buddy of mine,” Popyrin stated of his last-16 rival.
“We get alongside very well off the courtroom. It will likely be fascinating to play towards him. Now we have practised a bunch of instances.
“Yeah, he is a really tough participant. In all probability has a few of the finest palms on tour, comes into the web so much, likes to combine it up.
“That is going to be the robust half. I am simply going to should play my sport, serve effectively.
“I felt like I did not actually serve that effectively [against Djokovic], contemplating the chances and stuff.
“I’ve acquired to have to enhance on that.”
AAP/ABC
