'WHAT THE F***!': POPYRIN EXPLODES AFTER LINE JUDGE HOWLER

Alexei Popyrin has been left livid at a line call that almost ended his Paris Masters campaign against world No.4 Daniil Medvedev overnight.

The green and gold Olympian outmuscled Medvedev 6-4 2-6 7-6(4) to snap a three-match losing run against the former US Open winner in a high-quality round of 32 match.

But a shocking line call stole headlines for the wrong reasons late in the third set when Popyrin was down break point at 4-4.

The world No.24 hit a ball that caught the line, but the line judge ruled it out as Popyrin was about to put away an easy overhead smash.

A successful challenge resulted in unsavoury scenes as the replay was shown on the big screen.

"What the f***! What the f***!," Popyrin shouted at the line judge before the chair umpire admitted: "That's a terrible call, I know."

Still seething after the incident, Popyrin approached the umpire and vented his frustration.

"[The ball was] so slow and he calls it out. How can you call that ball out? This is f***ed, I don't want to play. This is f***ed, this is ridiculous," he said. Remaining calm, the umpire sympathised with the Aussie, but explained to him: "There is nothing I can do. I understand your frustration, but I cannot do anything but replay the point."

Met with a chorus of boos from the crowd on Centre Court, the tension escalated rapidly.

"He [Popyrin] knows nothing can be done. He just wants to vent right now which is understandable. It's a big moment," said the match commentator.

The subsequent point saw Popyrin fend off break point in style, converting a sublime volley at the net to which he expressed a massive roar directed at the line judge in question.

Popyrin took advantage of Medvedev’s 14th double fault of the contest to serve out a hard-fought victory in the tiebreak, as the pair embraced with a cold handshake at the net.

After famously defeating Novak Djokovic at the US Open last month, the win marks Popyrin’s second top-five victory of 2024 and has claimed five top-10 wins in his last six outings.

The draw opens up for the Montreal Masters 1000 champion, where he awaits either Karen Khachanov or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the round of 16 before a potential quarter-final date against Grigor Dimitrov looms.