Alexei Popyrin could find no way through American iron man Tommy Paul as the Australian men’s challenge at the French Open petered out tamely in the Roland Garros sunshine.
The Aussie men’s No.2 never looked like grasping the opportunity to earn his first grand slam quarter-final date as he succumbed 6-3 6-3 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen in a one-sided fourth-round clash on Sunday.
Outplayed by the world No.12 in all departments, it was a huge let down for 25th seed Popyrin who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year’s US Open when he had downed Novak Djokovic before falling the round of 16 to Frances Tiafoe.
The Sydneysider’s exit in one hour 51 minutes meant that only Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing, as she seeks to get past Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday’s last-16 clash.
