Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin expressed optimism despite suffering an early exit at the Brisbane International, where he lost in the first round to French qualifier Quentin Halys. This defeat followed a challenging 2023 season for Popyrin, marked by a significant drop in his world ranking from a career-high of 19th in August to 54th by the end of the year. A back injury forced him into a two-month hiatus, exacerbated by the pressures of constant travel.
Entering the new year ranked No. 49 in the world, Popyrin remains hopeful for a turnaround as the Australian Open approaches, starting on January 14, 2024, in Melbourne. He emphasized that the initial results of the year should not be viewed as entirely negative.
“I think if you look at the last two matches that I played, Reilly [Opelka] played pretty well and served really well; there wasn’t much I could do,” Popyrin stated. “Last week, I think Quentin played one of the best matches that I’ve seen him play—the level from my side was really high.”
Popyrin believes that his training and preparation are on the right track, despite the early setbacks. “Everything that we’ve been doing is good and it’s working. It might not be showing in the first two weeks of the year, but I’m looking forward to the AO. I think I can do some stuff there,” he noted, although he did not specify what he meant by “some stuff.”
His confidence extends beyond just technical aspects; he feels renewed on a personal level as well. “Physically and mentally, I’m feeling the best I’ve felt in a long time. I’m just trying to enjoy travelling again, enjoy my time off the court with loved ones, and do some things that I love,” he explained.
Reflecting on the previous year, Popyrin acknowledged that his mindset was affected by the travel fatigue and lack of enjoyment. “Last year, I didn’t quite enjoy travelling or my time away from the court. That affected how I prepared for tournaments and the way I practised—I didn’t have the best mentality, and that translated into matches,” he admitted.
Now, he is focusing on a more positive approach. “This year, I’ve been practising really well, and we’ve all been really positive in the camp. I think it’s only a matter of time before the results will come.”
Popyrin’s early loss in Brisbane came after he was overpowered by the powerful serves of Reilly Opelka, who will face fellow American and second seed Tommy Paul in the next round.
Meanwhile, fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis is set to return to singles competition for the first time in nearly a year. He will play against American Sebastian Korda on January 15, 2024. Kokkinakis underwent surgery to repair a pectoral muscle after exiting the Australian Open in the first round last year on January 15, 2023.
As the Australian Open approaches, both Popyrin and Kokkinakis will be eager to make their mark and showcase their resilience on the international stage.
