This is Alexei Popyrin: Ed Sheeran, golf and his dream | ATP Tour

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This is Alexei Popyrin: Ed Sheeran, golf and his dream

Get to know the Australian better off the track

August 12, 2024

Alexei Popyrin became only the third active Australian to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final when he defeated Sebastian Korda at the Omnium Banque Nationale presented by Rogers.

Popyrin is the lowest-ranked finalist at the tournament since World No. 144 Harel Levy finished runner-up to Marat Safin in 2000. At 25, Popyrin has risen to No. 30 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and would climb to No. 23 with the title on Monday.

Earlier this week, ATPTour.com caught up with Popyrin to get to know him better off the court.

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If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be?
I would like to go with Tim Cahill, a footballer I have admired since I was a child. He is probably one of the few sportsmen I follow with devotion. I would also go out to dinner with Ed Sheeran, he is my favourite artist. I love his music, I have liked him for a long time. It is the only concert I have ever been to. I will be attending with my family and my girlfriend.

What is your favorite Ed Sheeran song?
It’s an old one. It’s called ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’. It’s an old one, one of the first ones he published.

If you could switch places with someone else for a day, who would it be?
Maybe for the richest person in the world, to see what it feels like to have that much money. Just that.

Tell us something that fans don’t know about you that might be interesting.
I love sports in general, all sports. If you name a sport, I love watching it. I also think that people who don’t know me might think I’m arrogant. [por la manera en que camino]but I consider myself a nice guy. Some friends have told me that when they saw me for the first time, they saw how I walked and thought I would be haughty. But in the end they ended up liking me.

If you could play any match in the history of tennis, which would it be?
Probably the Australian Open final between Djokovic and Nadal, the one where they had to sit through the ceremony. I’d like to see how that felt and how hard they made their bodies work.

What are your favorite hobbies?
Golf! Right now it’s golf. I play golf whenever I get the chance. I travel to clubs for some tournaments. When I have free time I try to get there and play.

If you could choose players from the tour to form a golf group, who would you name?
I would choose Demon [Alex de Miñaur]We’ve played a few times. He’s a bit better than me, he’s got a great swing. I’d also pick Sebi Korda. He’s an amazing golfer. And I’d probably pick Rafa too. I want to see that swing in person!

What is the greatest privilege you have received as a tennis player?
Last week the Olympic team had the opportunity to meet golfer Min Woo Lee. We were able to hang out with him. We spent the entire Opening Ceremony together and it was quite fun.

What has been your hardest moment of believing in the circuit?
When I beat [Taylor] Fritz at the Australian Open [2023]I was coming off a very, very difficult year. Having such a happy moment like that, just in the second round, was huge for me because I hadn’t won many matches in the last year and a half. I was coming off a huge slump and beating a Top 10 team at home, in front of a huge crowd, is without a doubt the best memory of my sporting career.

If you could achieve one thing on or off the track, what would it be?

On the court I would like to win a Grand Slam. Off the court I want to start a very special family. I am a very family-oriented guy and I want to have children. I want to have two or three children. We’ll see what my girlfriend says about that! But I would like to start a nice family and for everyone to live comfortably and happily.

You travel all over the world. Where would you like to visit?
Seychelles. I have been to the Seychelles, but only for three days during a short holiday with my girlfriend last year. Honestly, it is probably the most beautiful place I have ever visited. I can’t wait to go back and stay for a month or two, because it is stunning.