Alexei Popyrin has advanced to the fourth round of Roland-Garros after a hard-fought straight sets win against Portugal’s Nuno Borges. The Australian, currently ranked No. 2 in the country, achieved this milestone with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-6 (13-11), 7-6 (7-5) in sweltering conditions on Court 14. With this victory, Popyrin remains the only Australian man left in the tournament, following the surprising exit of Alex de Minaur to Alexander Bublik.
A pivotal moment in the match came during the second set, where Popyrin and Borges engaged in a tense tiebreak. After initially squandering a set point and struggling to serve it out, Popyrin dug deep to clinch the set 13-11, acknowledging its significance in the overall match. “That second set breaker was probably the most important part of the match, and I’m really happy with how I managed to stay composed and serve well at crucial moments,” he shared with Stan Sport.
Popyrin’s resilience was evident as he faced off against a fatigued Borges, who had endured five consecutive five-set matches prior to this encounter, amounting to a staggering eight hours on court. In contrast, Popyrin has breezed through his matches, completing three in just three hours total.
Reflecting on his performance, he expressed satisfaction at winning in straight sets, especially under challenging conditions, stating, “It was a really good match from my point of view. I was pleased to wrap it up in three sets. The heat made it tough, but I managed to play solidly.” While he admitted to a mental lapse towards the end of the second set, he successfully regained focus during the tiebreak.
With this victory, Popyrin joins the ranks of notable Australian players who have reached the final 16 at Roland-Garros, including Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Arthurs, and Lleyton Hewitt. He also expressed surprise at De Minaur’s early exit, emphasising that his focus remains solely on his own game as he aims to progress further in the tournament. Next, Popyrin will face American Tommy Paul in a bid to continue his remarkable run.