What Alexei Popyrin admits he was ‘really angry' about during his match vs Holger Rune at the Canadian Open

Alexei Popyrin was not entirely happy throughout his win over Holger Rune at the Canadian Open.

Popyrin is the defending Canadian Open champion, having stunned the rest of the field last year en route to winning the biggest title of his career.

The Australian enjoyed this victory so much that Popyrin even picked it over beating Novak Djokovic.

However, he has been unable to find the same consistency on the ATP Tour until arriving in Canada once again, with Popyrin beating Daniil Medvedev and now Rune.

Although Popyrin is back into the Canadian Open quarterfinals, he was left very frustrated by something that happened during his match with Rune.

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What Alexei Popyrin was ‘really angry’ about against Holger Rune

Popyrin beat fifth seed Rune, 4-6 6-2 6-3, to extend his winning streak at the Canadian Open to nine matches.

However, Popyrin has admitted to being incredibly annoyed at not winning the first set.

In that first set, Popyrin was unable to convert any of his 11 break points, while Rune took his only single opportunity.

However, in his post-match press conference, Popyrin revealed that he told himself to recompose after that first set and was able to take his next break point opportunity.

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“Yeah, I was p—–. I felt like I shouldn’t have been down one set,” said Popyrin. “11 break points is a lot of break points to not convert. I was really, really angry. I was looking at my team, and I was p—–.

“But look, I just told myself, I let myself be angry for the change of ends, and then when I came out there I just told myself that if I keep getting into these opportunities it’s just pressure on him. I told myself, the next opportunity that I get I’m just going to go full and play aggressive, and that’s what I did. The next break point I converted, and from there I felt quite comfortable.”

Alexei Popyrin explains why he celebrated like he did after the match

Popyrin’s celebration after beating Rune was particularly noticeable, as he raised his arms in jubilation before hitting a ball into the crowd.

This is something that Popyrin has admitted is not something he usually does, but was more to do with the nature of the final game where he had to save a match point.

“Yeah, it was more the way that last game played out,” explained the world number 26. “I didn’t make my first five first serves, and that’s not typical of me, and I don’t know what happened there.

“Yeah, I had to save a break point there in the clutch. Then a backhand lob, which typically I don’t really hit well, it went in, so that was a nice feeling. So, yeah, it’s just the way that game played out.

“I felt really comfortable up until that game, but to not make five first serves in a row is a little bit, it gets on your nerves a little bit. So just to come through that game and to battle through that game was a good feeling, and then, you know, you won the match, so it’s nice.”

Popyrin’s title defence will continue on Monday, August 4, where he will play top seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.

Although Popyrin has the winning streak at the Canadian Open, he has been unable to beat Zverev in their three previous meetings.

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