Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin faced a disappointing early exit from the Australian Open, following a challenging first-round loss to France’s Corentin Moutet. Popyrin, who fought hard but succumbed to a four-set defeat, attributed his lackluster performance to a glute injury and a cramping hamstring, though he refused to use these ailments as excuses for what he described as his ‘shocking’ play.
Despite a strong start, where Popyrin secured the first set 6-4, his woes began midway through the second set. The Australian took a medical timeout due to a sharp pain in his left glute, which hampered his movement on the court. Ultimately, Moutet took advantage of Popyrin’s struggles, winning the next three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Reflecting on the match, Popyrin acknowledged the need to reassess his game, stating he needed to step back and understand what went wrong during what he called a tough month. The defeat at Melbourne Park compounded a rough start to the year, following an early exit at the Brisbane tournament. The 25-year-old, who had entered the Open as a seed for the first time, hoped for a successful 2025 after a career-best year that featured impressive victories, including an upset against Novak Djokovic.
Popyrin remains optimistic about healing his injury within a few weeks and faces decisions regarding his immediate playing schedule. Despite his physical and performance setbacks, he remains resolute in learning from the experience. Meanwhile, Moutet’s victory advances him to the second round, where he will face American qualifier Mitchell Krueger.