CANBERRA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin has stunned world No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Adelaide International.
The big-serving Popyrin, 23, secured the biggest win of his career 6-4, 7-6 (5) over second seed Auger-Aliassime on the opening day in Adelaide on Monday.
The result is the perfect start to 2023 for Popyrin, who lost 17 of his 22 ATP tour matches in 2022 and fell down the rankings from 59th in 2021 to 120th.
In contrast, Auger-Aliassime won four singles titles and led Canada to their first Davis Cup triumph in 2022.
It is the third time Popyrin has beaten a top-ten opponent, but the first that did not involve a retirement.
"I'm pretty happy, it's obviously an unbelievable feeling," Popyrin said on court after the match.
"I had a really, really tough season last year and to come out after qualifying and to beat a player of his quality just showed the work I did in the off-season is paying off already."
Earlier on Monday, crowds flocked to watch Novak Djokovic play in Australia for the first time since winning his ninth Australian Open in January 2021.
The Serbian world No. 5 teamed up with Canada's Vasek Pospisil in the men's doubles but lost to Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar.
It came almost 12 months after Djokovic was deported from Australia and banned from entering the country ahead of 2022 Australian Open, which has since been overturned.
Djokovic will start his singles campaign as the top seed against France's Constant Lestienne on Tuesday. ■
