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A shattered Alexei Popyrin was left rueing what could have been after being eliminated in the first round last night.
Popyrin failed to capitalize on many opportunities as he lost 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-4) to Frenchman Alexandre Muller in an up-and-down match that lasted only four hours at the John Cain Arena.
Alexei Popyrin failed in the opening round.Credit: Getty Images
Popyrin took a 4-2 lead in the fourth set, 5-2 in the tiebreak and 5-3 in the fifth set, but was unable to finish Muller and the 26-year-old Australian lost answers after this tough clash.
It was a disappointing result for the Australian player who thought he should have won this match.
“Yes, it’s disappointing. Frankly, I’m not happy. I felt like I was in control almost the whole match,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“I couldn’t close it out. That’s it. When the balls were new and the field was playing a little faster, I felt like I was in total control.
“When the balls start to get a little older, you know, he moves well and grinds very well, so that’s in his favor.”
Popyrin said he served well but failed to capitalize on key moments.
“I think I almost failed to get the finishing touch three times today and that’s really disappointing,” he said.
