Alexei Popyrin in the tennisnet interview: "I still have this little voice in the back of my head at the moment"
In a big interview with tennisnet.com, Alexei Popyrin talks about the ups and downs in tennis, the sacrifices made by his parents and the really big goals.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Apr 07, 2022, 11:47 am

Hello Mr. Popyrin. Gestures pulled you out of the ATP 250 event here in Marrakech: what is the reason for that?
I have a toe injury. I've had them under control since last year's US Open. I took a three week break after the US Open last year to get rid of the pain. And that's how I got a handle on it all hard court season. Now when I switched to clay court, I figured it would be the same as the hard court season. Unfortunately, however, the injury on clay court has continued to worsen. We think it's because the sand is rubbing between your toes, making the cut even bigger. So I have to take a break for some time and we have to find a way to manage that during the clay court season.
Do you already have plans, when you want to come back, what tournaments you want to play?
I'm not playing tennis at all at the moment. I can't wear shoes, not for three days. That's how I recovered from this injury last time. My goal is to play in Monte Carlo, but I haven't been on the pitch for the last four days and I have to play the qualifier on Saturday. It's already feeling better, but it's going to take time and we're hoping to find a way to get a handle on it in Monte Carlo and all these tournaments.
Did the injury affect you in any way early in the season?
No not true. We found a way to treat the injury by bandaging it. We glued the two toes together, pinky toe and toe next to it. Then we glued some tape between them and glued the two toes together. So we tried to make the two toes as stable as possible so they don't rub against each other. But after three days on the clay court, my toe suddenly swelled and I could hardly walk.
Let's take a look at last year's season, which was quite successful for you: you won your first title on the ATP Tour and a few months later you hit your career high at No. 59. How do you rate your development over the last year?
Yes, last year was actually a really good year for me. I think I was able to achieve all my goals last year. I hit a career high, cracked the top 100, and cemented my position within the top 100, which was good. This year hasn't started the best for me, but last year was a great year. For me, my performances in the Grand Slams were probably the biggest downside of the last year. For me, the performance in the Grand Slam tournaments wasn't that great. If they had been as good as in previous years and I had maintained the same level on the ATP Tour, I would have been extremely happy.
For me, my performances in the Grand Slams were probably the biggest downside of the last year.
Popyrin on the lack of success at major level
You say that your goal has always been and still is to win Grand Slams and that your goal is to reach the top of the world rankings. What steps do you think you need to take now that you are injury free to take the next step and get closer to those goals?
I think I just have to keep working. I really think I have what it takes to play at the top. For me it's just about keeping working, doing the right things, keeping trusting the team around me and myself and believing that I can do it. Because I believe that one day I may be able to play Grand Slams and be at the top of the rankings. That's the belief I have. I just have to keep doing the right thing, keep training hard and keep playing well. And then I'm sure it will come one day.
In an interview with Tennis Majors last year, you said you've adjusted to private life during the 2020 pandemic. Is this experience of being with your family for a long time, being with your girlfriend and having a great time, affecting you in any way right now? Are there times when you think about downsizing a little?
I think when the tour came back after lockdown it was very difficult for me to leave my home country. I've gotten very used to it. I felt very comfortable at home, with my family. I got used to staying in one place for four months. I think it took me half a year after the tour came back to be really motivated to play and compete at the highest level again. Because I know I haven't exercised as much as I should have exercised during lockdown. I had no opportunity to train at all, but at least I could have maintained my fitness. I didn't do that as well as I could have. But this period of lockdown has given me a boost over the past year. Because I don't think that last year's boost would have come if there hadn't been a lockdown and if it hadn't been for those six tough months - in terms of my performance - that followed.
I didn't do that as well as I could have.
The Australian on a very special lockdown experience in 2020.
This year has been quite a roller coaster ride for Australian tennis with all the events. How do you assess the current situation of tennis in your home country?
I think Australian tennis has more potential than it has in a long time. We have so many good players, we currently have seven Australian players in the top 100 in the world rankings. I think that shows Australian tennis is on the right track. We have Demon (comp. Alex de Minaur), Kicks (comp. Nick Kyrgios), Kookinakis (comp. Thanasi) who is on the way up and having a great season, we have Millman (comp. John), Thompson (comp. Note Jordan), Duckworth (Note James), we've got me: And we're all fighting for the number one position in Australia. I think that just shows how much potential we have in the whole squad. And that really gives us hope for the Davis Cup. Davis Cup is a big goal for all Australian boys. And since we have seven, eight players in the top 100, we might actually be able to get that trophy in the near future.
Of course, with you as an Australian, I would also like to talk a little bit about Ash Barty, who has announced her retirement from tennis. Can you understand her decision?
Yes, I can definitely understand that. Ash has had an incredible career. She retired early and then came back and has been at the forefront of women's tennis for a long time. She has achieved everything she set out to achieve. I couldn't respect the decision she made more. I think if she thinks it's the right decision for her then I stand behind her decision 100 percent. And frankly, when you've achieved everything you set out to do in the sport you're a professional, why keep playing? I can definitely understand what it's like to stay at home and be with family all the time. And if that's your top priority, then I'm 100 percent behind it.
Your name became quite popular for Austrian tennis fans in 2019 when you beat Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open (Note: Dominic Thiem had to give up in the third set when the score was 0-2). It was your first win against a top 10 player: what memories do you have of that game?
I remember it was a good game from my side. You know, I was really nervous coming onto the pitch. It was only the second time I've played in the Australian Open, it was only the second time in my life that I've even played in a Grand Slam. And playing Dominic Thiem against one of the best players in the world on a big pitch in front of your home crowd gives you a bit of butterflies in your stomach, especially as a young player who doesn't have a lot of experience yet. It was an experience for me when I walked onto the pitch and heard my name being called. And it was a great experience that I was then able to feel comfortable in the match and go head to head with him. And not losing 6-1 in the first set, then losing confidence and going down in the match 6-1, 6-1, 6-1. I just hoped that wouldn't happen. When I got close to him in the first set, when I won the first set, I started believing that I could win the match. And then I saw that there was something wrong with him, that he wasn't playing with the intensity that he usually shows. At that moment, I started seriously believing that I could win the match.
You've got a bit of butterflies in your stomach.
Popyrin remembers his duel with Dominic Thiem (2019).
In an interview with ATP a few months ago, you spoke about your youth playing many tournaments in Europe while living in Spain with your family. Is there a special connection you have to the upcoming tournaments in Europe?
Yes, in any case. You know, we - my whole family - we've traveled an awful lot for my tennis and my brother's. We traveled around Europe and played on clay. The main reason for these trips was to play on clay. Today when I go to the countries I traveled to as a child, come back and play at the highest level, it fills me with pride. To be able to take part in the tournaments today in all the countries where you played as a child, not many people can do that. It's really a great honor for me and I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully I can stay injury free and play all the tournaments I want to play in the upcoming clay court season.
You mentioned your family. I think she has invested a lot in your career. I think it takes a family that invests a lot to get to the top in a sport. You said you felt some pressure during the transition to becoming a professional tennis player because of the amount of time and money your family invested in your sport. Has that pressure eased?
Coming into pro camp, I felt some pressure to give back what my parents gave me. And not to let the chance my parents gave me pass me by. Even today I have to keep working to get the best out of myself. I'm still in the process of reaching that goal. Right now, I still have that little voice in the back of my mind that says, "Your parents gave you so much, you won't give up now, you will keep going and do what you always wanted to do as a kid and what your parents are passionate about would be happy if you could do it". But I know my parents are proud of me, even for the achievements I have now - and they're not many - but they're still super proud of me and the player and the man I've become. Having them in my corner and being able to come to them whenever I need their advice or need their opinion on something is not something I take for granted and I will never take that for granted. And I will always be grateful to them for all the sacrifices they have made for me and my brother, for the many journeys they have had to travel, for leaving their comfortable situation in Australia just for my tennis follow up: I will always be grateful to you for all these things.
This is not something that can be taken for granted and I will never take it for granted.
The 22-year-old on his parents' sacrifices for his tennis career.
You won your first title at the age of 21 and at the age of 22 you were ranked 59th in the ATP world rankings. How does it feel for you as a young player to experience those ups and downs, to get those great results in 2021 and now in 2022 to move up the rankings a bit? I think that young players in particular strive for constant improvement.
I think it's hard for everyone if you don't perform at your best in a year and don't get the results you want. It's always difficult for a player because as a competitor you always want to win and do your best. If you don't reach the level you want or expect, it's difficult. Especially when you do all the work behind the scenes but the results don't come. It's very hard to smile after all these defeats. Especially this season I had difficulties to be satisfied with my game, with my tennis. I know that will change at some point because I'm doing everything right. Eventually the tide will turn and eventually I will start winning matches and playing at the level I desire. I just have to keep going, and I think that's the hard part about keeping your head down, focus, keep training and keep believing that somehow you can flip the switch. I was really looking forward to the clay court season because I think my game suits clay court tennis very well. I think I had the opportunity to switch and do my best on clay. But with the toe injury we'll see how long I have to wait for that.
On your personal development as a player, is there any player you look up to? an idol?
For me, Juan Martin del Potro was really a great player to look up to. I looked up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he was one of my favorite players. And then there was Fernando Gonzalez, also one of my favorite players. What these guys have in common is that they have a massive forehand. For me, my forehand is probably my greatest weapon, along with my serve. Del Potro is probably the player I looked up to the most: he's a tall guy like me, he's skinny like me, and I would say we could have a pretty similar game. Big serve, big forehand, we both want to play solid from the baseline, stay in front, overpower the players. This is the player I really looked up to and tried to model my game after.
Finally, I would like to ask you for a brief outlook on the coming years. At the end of 2022, 2023 and 2024, where would you like to see yourself to be able to see your development as successful and to be satisfied with the way you have developed as a player?
That is a difficult question. Right now I'm looking at it more short-term because the form I'm in right now I'd need to win three or four games in a row and try to go from there. But as far as long-term goals go, top 10 is a pretty good goal for me, I really want to get in top 10. But first I have to get back in the top 50, in the top 30 and then hopefully eventually become number one in the world. But it's going to take steps, it's going to take time, but I think I'll make it one day.
Thank you for the interview and get well soon!