Not completed but, giant-killing Alexei Popyrin is aware of alternative knocks as the brand new huge dwelling hope confronts a dream seed-free path to the Australian Open quarter-finals – and probably past.
Popyrin can enter uncharted waters with a third-round victory over American world No.89 Ben Shelton on Saturday after opening up the draw for himself with a rollicking five-set win over eighth seed Taylor Fritz.
A match and centered Popyrin insists he has eyes just for Shelton as he chases a spot within the second week of a grand slam for the primary time.
But it is inconceivable to not dream figuring out that world No.25 Roberto Bautista Agut is the highest-ranked participant left in Popyrin’s blown-open quarter of the draw, presenting the 23-year-old with a uncommon alternative to make the ultimate 4 of his dwelling slam.
“I’m going to take it one match at a time but, yeah, going into every tournament, you want to go all the way,” Popyrin stated.
“For me, with the way I’m playing now, I think I have a good chance to win the next round.
“That’s all that I’m wanting in the direction of. I do not know who I (would) play within the fourth spherical, quarter-finals, semi-finals. For me, the third spherical is the important thing.”
For the record, Australia’s only French Open junior winner in the past half a century would face either JJ Wolf or qualifying lucky loser Michael Mmoh in the last 16 should he see off 20-year-old Shelton.
“I do know that he is an enormous lefty, huge serve, huge from the again, likes to come back ahead, has an enormous recreation,” Popyrin said of the emerging Shelton.
“He is absolutely up-and-coming with a lot confidence. Those are robust gamers to play: children with a lot confidence who haven’t been on the tour a lot, who got here out actually on the again finish of final yr going from, I do not know, I feel unranked to high hundred.
“He’s a really good player and he’s in the third round already this year in his probably first AO. It’s going to be really tough.
“I’m not going into it lighthearted or cocky or something like that. I’m going into it able to battle.”
In supreme physical condition after a gruelling pre-season under new coach Xavier Malisse, Popyrin turned the corner after a lean 2022 campaign with a morale-boosting win over world No.7 Felix Auger-Aliassime en route to this month’s Adelaide International quarter-finals.
“Huge,” he stated of the breakthrough.
“I knew that I’ve the sport to beat them but it surely’s big to again up discuss, necessary to again up discuss.
“I wouldn’t have been saying it last year, for example. I wouldn’t have been claiming that I can beat these top-10 guys.
“Yeah, for me it is easy, not simply to place stuff on the market and never again it up. It’s actually necessary for me to again up my phrase. That’s what I did.
“Hopefully I’ll continue doing it. Don’t want to jinx it, though, so touch wood.”
