WATCH: Jubilant Alexei Popyrin overwhelmed with emotions as crowd applause after winning against Taylor Fritz at Australian Open

Alexei Popyrin is very happy to be able to win against Taylor Fritz and advance into the third round of the Australian Open 2023.


WATCH: Jubilant Alexei Popyrin overwhelmed with emotions as crowd applause after winning against Taylor Fritz at Australian Open

Alexei Popyrin after winning his second-round match at Australian Open 2023

The John Cain Arena, Melbourne Park erupted as Australian wildcard entrant Alexei Popyrin beat one of the top seeds, Taylor Fritz, in a five-set thriller to advance into the third round of the Australian Open 2023. The 23-year-old beat the American 6(4)-7(7), 7(7)-6(2), 6-4, 6(6)-7(8), 6-2 in a match that lasted for more than 4 hours.

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He was naturally jubilant after his emphatic victory. The emotions were evident on his face. Tears rolled down his eyes as he was asked to come up to the center of the court for an interview.

Australian sports broadcaster Wide World of Sports shared an excerpt of the on-court interview on social media. He answered many questions during the interview.

Alexei Popyrin was knocked out of the Australian Open last year in the first round. He also struggled with form the whole season and won only an ITF Challenger title, BNP Paribas Primrose Bordeaux, in 2022. He will take on American Ben Shelton in the third round of the Australian Open 2023.

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Tough day for top seeds

Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz
Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz

The Australian Open 2023 is shocking the world. After World No.14 Matteo Berrettini and defending champion Rafael Nadal were knocked out in the opening rounds of the tournament, the stage was set for even more upsets. Andy Murray defeated Matteo Berrettini in the five-set first round match on the second day of the competition. Rafael Nadal was defeated by Mackenzie McDonald in the second-round match on the third day of the competition.

However, this day has been very tough for the top seeds. World No.12 Alexander Zverev lost to lucky loser Michael Mmoh despite winning the first set in the second-round match. In a match that lasted for more than 3 hours, the American defeated the German 6(1)-7(7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

World No. 3 Casper Ruud also lost his second-round match against Jenson Brooksby. The 2022 French Open and US Open finalist tried hard to make a return in the match after losing the first two sets. He won the third set; however, he could not muster enough to beat the American in the fourth and decisive set. The Americans beat the Norwegian 6-3, 7-5, 6(4)-7(7), 6-2.

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World No.8 Taylor Fritz is the latest among top seeds who succumbed in the second round. However, World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, World No.6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, World No.7 Daniil Medvedev and World No.8 Andrey Rublev advanced into the third round of the competition after winning their respective second-round matches. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is wrestling against Frenchman Enzo Couacaud in his second-round encounter.

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