Aussie wildcard Alexei Popyrin in tears after stunning No.8 seed in Australian Open boilover
Throughout the 2022 ATP season, young Australian braveheart Alexei Popyrin won five matches and lost 17.
He didn't collect any silverware of note, and wasn't on the lips of any serious tennis pundit regarding major events.
Fast forward to the third weekend of January and the 23-year-old is the talk of the Australian Open, having stunned No.8 seed Taylor Fritz in a five-set epic that lasted four hours and four minutes.
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Less than two days earlier he had beaten Chun-Hsin Tseng in another five-setter that lasted almost four and a half hours, and finished past 2am in Melbourne.
His victory over Fritz was something else entirely - a wildcard knocking out a genuine title contender in front of a roaring crowd on John Cain Arena.
"That was... this win is... means so much to me," Popyrin said through the deafening cheers from the crowd.
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"I had the toughest year last year. Didn't win many matches. I have won as many matches this year as I won the whole of last year and it's only January."
Popyrin - from Sydney - had to stop and wipe tears from his eyes as he spoke to Casey Dellacqua on court following his upset victory.
Alexei Popyrin of Australia celebrates winning a point against Taylor Fritz of the United States. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Getty
"I don't want that feeling last year that I had ever again," he said.
"I wrote it down. I'm going to keep going and try and go all the way because I love this feeling and I want more of this feeling.
"I want you guys to have this feeling more. Man I love you guys so much."
Popyrin was buoyed massively by the vocal crowd.
"Oh my god, it was just crazy man. I really couldn't have done it without you guys," he said.
Popyrin next takes on 20-year-old American contender Ben Shelton in round three.
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