LIVE: 23-year-old Australian Alexei Popyrin has already equalled his greatest grand slam run, reaching the third round for the third time at Melbourne Park and the fifth time in the majors overall.
On Saturday night, the Australian Open wildcard chases a first-ever fourth round berth – and a $338,250 payday – as he battles American 20-year-old Ben Shelton.
The Australian is the lowest-ranked player left in the men’s draw at 113, but entered the third-round battle on the back of the biggest win of his career, a stunning upset of eighth seed Taylor Fritz.
For the third consecutive match, Popyrin lost the opening set – this time 3-6 – as he struggled to find his rhythm against the left-handed world number 89. The match was also briefly delayed in a scary moment when a fan collapsed in the stands.
Shelton silenced the crowd with a dazzling display of booming serves and clinical ball-striking.
But the Australian defended three break points in one game early in the second set, before forcing his rival to stave off three break points of his own as the pair went toe-to-toe.
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Popyrin got off to a hot start as he earned a break point in the opening game of the match. Shelton staved it off, before both players quickly held their serves in the next two games.
But 15 minutes in – as Popyrin served to level it up at 2-2 – play was halted as a fan appeared to collapse.
“We have someone that fainted in the stands,” the umpire said, before calling out to the struggling fan: “You fine sir?”
The crowd member was fortunately fine, and Popyrin wasn’t too bothered by the short break, comfortably seeing out the hold.
In his next service game, Popyrin saved his first break point of the match before being stunned by an incredible piece of court coverage from Shelton.
The American was on the back foot as Popyrin came into the net, but Shelton turned defence into attack with a lovely shot aimed at Popyrin’s feet. The Australian’s half-volley drop shot wasn’t quite good enough, with Shelton racing forward and slamming a cross-court passing shot.
Shelton’s monstrous roar was in stark contrast to the fans at John Cain Arena who were silenced by the American’s sizzling start.
The big-serving leftie gave Popyrin no chance to claw back into the set, and did not lose a point in his next two service games as he sealed the set 6-3.
Shelton was serving at a remarkable average first-serve speed of 200.1km/h with a fastest speed of 223km/h.
It was significantly higher than his average first-serve speed from his opening two rounds – 193 and 188.5km/h respectively.
“He is playing out of his skin,” Lleyton Hewitt said about Shelton in commentary.
Shelton nailed 13 winners to 7 unforced errors, while Popyrin’s nerves appeared to shine through as he managed eight winners to 10 unforced errors.
Todd Woodbridge said: “He just seems a little tight and tense at the moment.”
Shelton carried his red-hot level into the second set, and threatened to break the Australian at 2-2.
The Australian quickly fell to 15-40, but fought back to save both break points. Shelton brought up a third break point, but Popyrin unleashed a 209km/h ace to deny the American before holding his serve.
Finally, the tide began to turn as Shelton’s unstoppable level began to waver at the hour mark.
Three conseutive unforced errors from Shelton saw the American face two break points at 15-40. Shelton slammed a backhand winner to defend the first, before firing a massive 191km/h second serve that Popyrin was unable to return.
But another unforced error from Shelton gave the Aussie a third chance to steal the game – only for Shelton to blast a terrifying 226km/h ace down the centre line.
Popyrin had spurned three opportunities as Shelton held, but the home hope shook off his disappointment with a rapid hold to love.
FULL PREVIEW
The Aussie is the lowest-ranked player left in the men’s draw at 113, but there’s plenty of reason for optimism that he can join Alex de Minaur in the winner’s list and give Australia two men in the fourth round for the first time in eight years.
The world no. 113 faces a breakout star in Ben Shelton, a 20-year-old who has risen nearly 500 places to world no.89 in the last 12 months. In fact, the son of former star Bryan Shelton (also his coach) had never left US soil until his trip down under this month.
And as Nick Kyrgios suggested on Twitter, it’s a golden opportunity for Popyrin given the pair are both similarly ranked.
“Pop gotta take this, draw don’t get better than this,” the top-ranked Aussie male said.
Shelton’s only previous grand slam appearance – at the US Open in 2022 – saw him dumped out of the first round in his maiden five-set match, giving up a two sets to one lead.
Popyrin, by contrast, is a battle-hardened professional in his sixth Australian Open main draw appearance, and his fifth third-round appearance at a slam.
And while the American enjoyed a brilliant 2022 to leap up the rankings, it was the opposite for Popyrin – winning just five of his 22 Tour-level matches.
But he has already surpassed that number in 2023 (including picking up two wins over top-ten players) and is in a rich vein of form, stunning eighth seed Taylor Fritz in the second round in an epic five-setter.
“I had the toughest year last year. I’ve won as many matches this year as the whole of last year and it’s only January,” Popyrin said.
“This is a dream for me, I don’t want to wake up at all.”
It was his second four-hour, five-set clash in as many matches. But it’s done the Aussie a world of good.
“I have that confidence going into every match. I think I have the game to beat the guys at the top,” he said.
“I’ve done that twice already this year, beating two top-10 guys. For me it’s very important going into that match knowing I have that confidence, knowing I have the game to beat them, which I truly believe that I do.”
On John Cain Arena – the place he has made his home this tournament – the Australian will fancy his chances of another upset victory and his greatest-ever slam run.
As Alex de Minaur said of his countryman: “He’s a big guy with a big game and he’s very dangerous. He’s one of those guys that I’m sure no one really wants him on the other side of the court.
“It’s amazing to see Aussies do great. It makes me very proud and very excited because ultimately that’s going to be us, hopefully, flying the flag, doing Australia proud.”
RIDICULOUS CROWDS FOR NEW KING OF JOHN CAIN
It was Nick Kyrgios’ favourite court, but John Cain Arena is now well and truly going wild for Popyrin. The Australian played both of his two previous matches on the court – which is open to all fans with a ground pass to Melbourne Park.
On Saturday, that situation led to thousands of fans hoping to get a seat in the 10,500-seat stadium – far, far more than were on offer.
LIVE BLOG
Alexei Popyrin faces Ben Shelton at 7pm on John Cain Arena.
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