Training with Serena Williams was great, says Alexei Popyrin

In press conference at the Australian Open after defeating Dominic Thiem on Thursday, the 19-year-old Australian commented on how it felt like to hit with at the Mouratoglou Academy a few months ago.

It was a great experience, Popyrin recognized. Shes a legend of the game. Just to hit with a legend, especially Serena, it really gave me a great, great experience. She gave me some tips after the hit.

What tips? Just stay focused, keep concentrated during this period. Popyrin also added: The balls were coming, really good, coming from her. Honestly, I expected that from her because shes an unbelievable player.

Yeah, as I said, the experience was unbelievable. Popyrin will come away with at least $150,000 after this match. How will he spend it? On travel. Got to keep it in tennis. Yeah, Im not going to go berserk with the money.

Going to keep it on travel. On his movement improvements, Popyrin added: I would say thats something Ive had for a long time. It was more improving the serve, the percentage of first serve in, so the consistency.

I think I was doing that really well in the first and second round and today. Yeah. Serena Williams reached the third round of the Australian Open where she will play teenager Dayana Yastremska. ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title