Alexei Popyrin vs. the Brits: Andy Murray flashbacks, Jack Draper showdown at Queen’s Club

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Popyrin vs. the Brits: Murray flashbacks, Draper showdown at Queen’s Club

Australian meets Draper on Wednesday in London

Dan Istitene/Getty Images Alexei Popyrin played Andy Murray at the HSBC Championships last year. By Sam Jacot

Twelve months ago, Alexei Popyrin found himself in the middle of a moment that would become part of tennis history, just not in the way he’d hoped.

Stepping onto centre court at The Queen’s Club, now renamed the Andy Murray Arena, the Australian faced the former World No. 1 in what would become Andy Murray’s final tour-level victory. In front of a raucous home crowd and under a typically bright British summer sky, the Scot overcame Popyrin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the opening round of the HSBC Championships.

“I always wanted to play Andy, just not in his last win as a professional tennis player! I just wish I had won that match," Popyrin said before laughing. "I can't believe Andy's last win is me.”

Despite the result, the experience left a lasting impression.

“It was a great moment to play on that court,” Popyrin said. “The two times I’ve played there, it’s been against [Daniel] Evans and Murray, both Brits, so the crowd was never on my side. But I’ve always looked up to Andy. Alongside Roger, Rafa, and Novak, he’s one of the greats. What he achieved in that era is unbelievable. To be part of that final chapter, in a way, was pretty special.”

A year on and Popyrin finds himself stepping into another high-profile centre court showdown, this time against British No. 1 and World No. 6 Jack Draper. And while the opponent may be different, the energy and challenge of playing a home favourite on British grass remains the same.

“Playing another British player would be a great experience,” Popyrin said before Draper was confirmed as his second-round opponent. “I enjoy the big atmosphere and I would have that again here. I would enjoy that opportunity and hopefully the outcome would be different.”

Since his meeting with Murray last year, the 25-year-old has climbed to new heights. The Australian captured his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal last August and backed it up with a run to the fourth round at the US Open, his best major performance to date, (alongside Roland Garros, 2025). Now competing at a career-high No. 21 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Popyrin is firmly establishing himself among the game's growing threats, though his path hasn’t been without its challenges.

“The Masters was obviously an unbelievable result for me,” Popyrin said. “Then I backed that up with a fourth-round run at the US Open, which at the time was the best result I’d had at a Slam. I finished last year strong with Paris as well, but in between there were inconsistencies after the US Open and that kind of carried into the start of this year. It wasn’t great until the clay season kicked off.”

A quarter-final showing in Monte-Carlo provided a welcome spark, but inconsistency crept back in. However, a fourth-round showing at Roland Garros provided further clarity for the Australian.

“I have started realising what I have to do, how I have to train to perform on court. I’ve always had one good result, then a few bad ones my whole career,” Popyrin said. “That’s just how my game is. It’s big, it’s powerful. You don’t always learn other styles when you play like that from a young age.

“I’m starting later but I am learning to be more consistent. Not going for winners unnecessarily, minimising errors. If I can do that I should be winning matches. That is the main focus for me and the rest of my career, to be more consistent.”

Popyrin defeated Aleksander Vukic in his opening match at Queen’s Club after a first-round exit to Zizou Bergs in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Having advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros, the turnaround from clay to grass was quick and the 25-year-old admits he is still finding his feet on the surface.

“I need at least 10 days to prepare for the grass and I only had about five to days before my match in [The] Netherlands,” Popyrin said. “In hindsight, I should’ve come to London, trained more and really got used to the surface. The movement’s the part I struggle with the most, but it’s coming back to me and I am starting to feel good.”

That bodes well, because despite the tricky adjustment, the grass season remains one of the Australian’s favourite stretches on the calendar.

“I love being in England,” Popyrin said. “It reminds me of home. The language, the culture and when the sun’s out, it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We rent a house as a team, spend time together and don’t travel as much. It’s a nice change from living out of a suitcase.

“The history, the crowd, the feeling in London. I love it. And Queen’s is my favourite tournament on the ATP circuit. It’s a beautiful set of courts.”

Off the court, Popyrin has found consistency in his personal life. In November, the 25-year-old got engaged to longtime partner Amy, whose unwavering support has been a steady presence throughout his career.

“She’s sacrificed so much for me,” Popyrin said. “She finished physio school and could’ve worked in the NHS, but chose to travel with me instead. Then she earned her teaching degree and once again made sacrifices so we could spend more time together. I’ll always be grateful for everything she’s done.”

With Amy in his corner, Popyrin will look to continue his upward momentum and exact a bit of revenge on Wednesday. The Australian lost to Draper in the pair’s only previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting in Dubai this year but will be hoping to upset the home favourite and level the scores.

"A run here would help give clarity to what I am working on. I am feeling good, so let's see," Popyrin said.

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