WATCH: Alexei Popyrin claims huge upset win against Felix Auger-Aliassime in Rome
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s struggles continue as he was taken out by Alexei Popyrin in the second round of the Italian Open on Thursday.
The Canadian also lost his opener at the Madrid Open and hasn’t won a match since the Miami Open in March as he missed the Monte Carlo Masters due to injury.
Qualifier Popyrin, meanwhile, is on a roll in terms of beating top players as Auger-Aliassime is the third top 10 player that he has defeated this year as he also beat Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open and Hubart Hurkacaz at the Indian Wells Open.
The Australian’s latest upset victory was a gruelling 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win in three hours and 17 minutes at Foro Italico with each set taking more than an hour to complete.
After an early break each, world No 77 Popyrin got the crucial break in game nine before Auger-Aliassime left it late in the second set with his break only coming in game 10.
Popyrin was on the attack in game three as his Canadian opponent saved three break points, but he wasn’t to be denied in game 11 before he served it out.
His reward will be a third-round clash against either 22nd seed Sebastian Korda or Roman Safiullin
Popyrin’s compatriot Thanaksi Kokkinakis couldn’t pull off a similar upset as he was outplayed by eighth seed Jannik Sinner with the Italian winning 6-1, 6-4 in 79 minutes.
“I’m happy about my level today,” Sinner said. “It was not easy. It was a little bit breezy, a little bit windy and I think he especially in the second set served a little bit better. I also had a couple of chances then which I didn’t use, but I’m very happy about my serve, I felt the ball very well.”
The local hero added: “It is just a very special tournament for me. I only have this kind of crowd once a year, or twice a year if I qualify for Turin.
“That’s obviously my goal, and I am also trying to go deep here in Rome, but I take it match after match. I feel ready to compete, but let’s see in the next round because it is going to be a tough one.”
The Italian faces Alexander Shevchenko in the third round.
There were also early wins for 13th seed Cameron Norrie, who beat Alexandre Müller 6-3, 6-2, and Marton Fucsovics, who upset 17th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4.
