Australian Open star fumes ‘I can’t go on like this’ in worrying press conference | Tennis | Sport

Alexei Popyrin admitted things ‘can’t keep going on like this’ in a worrying press conference after his early exit at the Australian Open. The man from Sydney was beaten in five sets by Alexandre Muller to round off a nightmare start to the season. Popyrin also suffered first-round exits at the Brisbane International and Adelaide International before heading to Melbourne Park.

Popyrin failed to take several opportunities against Muller as he slipped to a 2-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6 defeat. Afterwards, he became emotional in his press conference as he reflected on his fall from grace over the last few months. He has slipped from 19th in the world rankings to 54th in the space of a few months following a mental health break, a back injury and failing to defend his Canadian Open title.

Asked when he felt things would begin to improve, his voice wavered as he replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know. For me it’s really tough to take. I just think I do a lot. I work a lot. I think about my career a lot.

“And to have results like this and to have results that I’ve had the last couple of months, and obviously to start the year, it’s not easy to take, even though I feel like I’m playing well and I feel like I’m doing everything that I want to do.

“Yeah, the results are just not coming, and I guess that’s tennis sometimes. But when it keeps happening, maybe I have to look at myself and see and really look deep inside because it can’t keep going on like this.”

Popyrin was on the verge of beating Muller in the fourth set and served for the match in the fifth, but ended up on the wrong side of the decisive tiebreak.

“Disappointment, yeah, obviously not happy,” he said, reflecting on his missed opportunities. “Felt like I was in control nearly all the match. Couldn’t close it out. That’s about it.

“I just couldn’t come up with the finishing touch nearly three times today, and that’s really disappointing. But you can look at the positives.”

Popyrin, who required treatment on his calf for a pre-existing issue during the match, welled up as he felt the pain of being unable to deliver in front of his home crowd.

“It kind of flared up there,” he explained. “Then obviously with all the nerves and the hype and everything like that… I usually don’t cramp, but it’s now two years in a row that on this court I cramp.

“I really want to put on a show and really want to win for the crowd. They’re there for me, and I can’t win. It’s not easy.”

He also said that he would be skipping Davis Cup qualifying next month in a bid to climb back up the rankings, adding: “Nothing beats playing for your country, but at the same time I have to think about my year.”