Max Purcell called up to singles tournament, springs huge upset win over Felix Auger-Aliassime
In what will surely be one of the major upsets of these Games, Australia's Max Purcell is through to the second round of the men's singles tennis.
A doubles specialist who made the final of the Australian Open in men's doubles in 2020 alongside countryman Luke Saville, Purcell has never won a singles match at a grand slam - but made the most of his extremely late opportunity.
Purcell wasn't even meant to be playing in the tournament, receiving a call-up just a few hours before the match took place when Andy Murray withdrew with injury.
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The 23-year-old was set to play in the doubles tournament, but was serving as an alternate for the singles draw when the got the tap on the shoulder less than four hours before taking to the court.
The world number 190 was long odds against the Canadian, who is ranked 15th in the world and recently reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.
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But nobody told Purcell the script, who won the first set 6-4, before taking five consecutive points in their second set tiebreaker to win the match.
Max Purcell in first round action at Tokyo. Getty
Purcell was much more consistent during the course of the contest, double faulting once to Auger-Aliassime's nine, and committing eight unforced errors to his opponent's 23.
After knocking off the ninth seed, Purcell will now face either world No.57 Dominik Koepfer or world No. 55 Facundo Bagnis in the round of 32.
His day isn't over though, he'll play in the doubles later today alongside John Peers, against the American duo of Austin Krajicek and Tennys Sandgren.
