Popyrin eliminates Auger-Aliassime in the 2nd round in Rome

Alexei Popyrin won the marathon match against Felix Auger-Aliassime from the 2^nd round in Rome Masters after 3 hours and 18 minutes.

💪🏻 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝟑𝟐 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐢

A remarkable performance from @AlexeiPopyrin99 who takes out the no.10 seed Auger-Aliassime 💥#YourNextLevel | @Reale_Mutua pic.twitter.com/2AEFpHxWK8

— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 12, 2023

Alexei won the 1^st set 6-4 after converting 2 break points from 8 chances.

The Canadian bounced back with a 6-4 win in the 2^nd set after winning his only breaking point and saving 2 and didn’t allow his opponent to break him.

In the decisive 3^rd set, world number 77 Popyrin broke Auger-Aliassime’s serve as he was serving to lead 5-4, and then the Australian closed the match. Felix, world number 10, has no break points in the final set.

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3 – Alexei Popyrin has claimed his third top-10 win of 2023. Popyrin is now the only player ranked outside the ATP’s top 20 with three wins against top-10 ranked opponents this year. Upsetter.#IBI23 | @InteBNLdItalia @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/8tEYVJfMgA

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 12, 2023

Popyrin and Auger-Aliassime faced earlier this year in Adelaide, and the Australian beat him there too.

Three hours 17 minutes 😨

The moment @AlexeiPopyrin99 secured a big win over No.10 seed Auger-Aliassime…#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/DZoH5ayMMw

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 12, 2023