Martin Klizan confident promising Alexei Popyrin will become great player

Slovakian tennis star Martin Klizan dropped a praise on promising Australian star Alexei Popyrin following their Sydney International clash. Klizan, 29, edged out the 19-year-old wildcard in a first-round thriller 7-6 (4) 4-6 7-6 (5) to reach the Sydney round-of-16.

The Slovakian saved three consecutive break points in the 12th game of the first set to force a tie-break. Klizan, ranked at No. 41 in the world, overturned a 2-0 tie-break deficit as he eventually found a way to win the opener.

The 29-year-old appeared to be going for a straight-set win as he quickly opened up a 3-0 second-set lead. However, world No. 147 Popyrin refused to give up as he broke Klizan in the fifth and ninth game to clinch a decider.

As no break points were seen, the third set went into a decider — where Klizan won the opening five points. Popyrin saved two consecutive match points but failed to save the third as Klizan sealed the win after two hours and 41 minutes of play.

Popyrin, who won the 2017 French Open boys singles title, has been making solid progress at the ATP level in recent years. Popyrin is a great player, and of course Im sure that hes gonna be a very good player.

When you play in front of the home crowd, you always play much better. So I just wish him good luck, Klizan said of Popyrin post-match, per Tennis Australia Twitter. Also read: ATP Brisbane: Unseeded Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof earn title