'FIGHT THOSE DEMONS': PLAYING WITH MORE VARIETY, POPYRIN POWERS INTO ROLAND GARROS SECOND WEEK

Alexei Popyrin made history on Friday at Roland Garros, becoming the first Aussie man to reach the second week in Paris without dropping a set since Ken Rosewall in 1968.

The 26-year-old was near perfect early on, and ultimately remained composed throughout the three-hour-and-three-minute contest to defeat Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6(11) 7-6(5).

“It was a really good match from my point. Happy that I wrapped it up in three sets,” Popyrin said post-match.

“I think I played the first set and a half really solid, how I've been playing all week.”

By entering the code TFS2025, you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items when you shop online at www.racquetworld.com.au

Popyrin, who told us after the first round that he prefers to return in the opening game of a match, allowing him to get an early break before his opponent establishes a rhythm, again broke to start and raced to a 2-0 lead.

After holding his way to a one-set advantage without losing a point behind his first serve, the match became tighter, before the Aussie came through in a significant second-set tiebreak.

“[The tiebreak] was very important. I think going two sets to love up or one set all is a completely different ballgame,” Popyrin stated.

The 2024 Montreal champion again needed a tiebreak in the third, finally closing it out on his sixth match point, and advancing to the fourth round for the second time in his past three majors.

Ultimately, it felt like a tactical masterclass from Popyrin, playing with variety, particularly off his backhand and serve, to affect Borges' rhythm.

Speaking post-match, the Aussie revealed that mixing up his serve has been a particular point of emphasis, to boost what is already his biggest weapon.

“It’s been a focus of [mine and coach Neville Godwin’s] for the last year and a half. I've got a big serve. I like to serve big, so it's really hard for me to slow it down,” he insightfully told the media.

Despite understanding its benefit, the shift has been a challenge for Popyrin, particularly in big moments during matches.

“It's really important to [add variation]. But then, muscle memory kicks in when it's a tight moment and you want to go for that big serve again. You have to fight those demons and hit a slower serve to change up the rhythm,” he said.

“[Nev] has been banging his head against the door trying to explain it to me. It's finally starting to soak in a little bit to my head.”

The Aussie will now face American Tommy Paul in the last 16; a stage which he is yet to surpass at a major.

And despite Paul having played back-to-back five-setters in Paris, Popyrin won’t be taking the challenge lightly.

“Tommy is one of the fittest guys on tour. The work he puts in the gym, the work he puts in off the court, I think he's only going to come out on Sunday and play normal,” he said.

“For me, it's very important not to think about the fact that he's played two five-setters. It's to keep focusing on myself, to keep focusing on the way I've been playing for the last two weeks.”

In Friday’s doubles action, John Peers and Matt Ebden became the first Aussie pair to progress to round three.

Back on the same courts where they won Olympic gold last year, the duo overcame the German pair of Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner 7-6(4), 6-3.

Meanwhile, Maya Joint’s five-match doubles win streak (including the WTA Rabat title) came to an end in the second round, suffering a 2-6 3-6 defeat with partner Oksana Kalashnikova.

Looking ahead to Saturday in Paris, Daria Kasatkina will be the only Aussie in singles action, taking on Paula Badosa first-up (7pm AEST), while James Duckworth, Aleks Vukic, and John-Patrick Smith all take to the doubles court.

Game4padel is leading the way in the growth of Padel tennis in Australia. Check them out at game4padel.com.au for club locations, corporate event opportunities and special offers.