Australian Open 2026: Tennis world rallies around Aussie star after heartbreaking scenes on historic day

Tennis fans are expressing their sympathy for Alexei Popyrin after the Aussie star suffered a devastating five-set loss on what was otherwise a brilliant day for the locals at the Australian Open. Popyrin held a two-sets-to-one lead against Frenchman Alexandre Muller on Monday night, and was up 4-2 in the fourth set and 5-2 in the tiebreak.

He served for the match at 5-3 in the fifth but couldn't cash in on multiple opportunities and went down 2-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (10-4). The 26-year-old was on the verge of tears in his post-match press conference after the loss continued a brutal run of poor form and injuries.

After hitting a career-high ranking of World No.19 last year, he's now down at 54 after taking a mental health break. He then suffered first-round losses at the Brisbane International and Adelaide International leading into the Australian Open.

A shattered Popyrin admitted his tennis "can't keep going on like this", saying: "For me it's really tough to take. I just think I do a lot. I work a lot. I think about my career a lot.

"And to have results like this and to have results that I've had the last couple of months, and obviously to start the year, it's not easy to take, even though I feel like I'm playing well and I feel like I'm doing everything that I want to do.

"Yeah, the results are just not coming, and I guess that's tennis sometimes. But when it keeps happening ... maybe I have to look at myself and see and really look deep inside because it can't keep going on like this."

Popyrin had treatment on his calf throughout the match, but said it was a pre-existing issue. He teared up as he lamented being unable to deliver in front of a parochial home crowd on John Cain Arena. On social media, fans were quick to send messages of support and urged Popyrin to keep his head up after the crushing loss.

Aussie tennis in remarkable 34-year first at Australian Open

The heartbreaking scenes took some shine off a historic day for Australian tennis as six players advanced to the second round. Storm Hunter, Ajla Tomljanovic and Priscilla Hon joined day-one winner Talia Gibson in advancing on the women's side, giving Australia its largest female contingent in the second round since 1992.

Hon was involved in extraordinary scenes when opponent Marina Stakusic collapsed to the court and had to be taken away on a wheelchair. Hon showed her class by helping assist her Canadian opponent, including keeping her leg straight while she was being wheeled off.

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