Popyrin finds form in Bordeaux and claims ATP Challenger title

Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin has turned around a recent form slump to claim the Challenger title in Bordeaux.

Popyrin won his first match of the year in Melbourne back in early January before suffering six straight losses, including five straight round one losses.

The 22-year-old started the year ranked at no. 61 only to see it tumble to no. 127 before he won five straight matches to win the Bordeaux title.

Popyrin faced French local Quentin Halys in the final and recovered from losing the first set 6-2.

He didn’t manage to break his opponent and claimed two tiebreakers winning the match 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4).

Popyrin’s ranking has jumped to no. 103 ahead of the French Open. A good showing there will see him return to the top-100.