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 an Australian off the tennis court

August 12, 2024

Alexei Popyrin became the third Australian player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final when he defeated Sebastia Korda to advance to the Rogers Omnium Banque National presenter’s championship match.

Popyrin is ranked lowest in the finals of this tournament since World No. 144 Harel Levy finished second in 2000 defeating Marat Safin. The 25-year-old is as high as No. 30 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will climb to No. 23 with the title on Monday.

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

If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be and why?
I would go with Tim Cahill, he’s a footballer I respected as a kid, probably one of the few players I’m a big fan of. I would go to dinner with Ed Sheeran, he is my favorite artist so far. I love his music, I’ve loved it for a long time, and so has he. His is the only concert I’ve ever been to. I was going with my family and girlfriend.

What’s your favorite Ed Sheeran song?
A long time ago. It’s called You Need Me, I Don’t. It’s an old song, one of the first songs he ever released.

If you could switch places with someone for a day, who would it be?
I traded with probably the richest person in the world to see what it’s like to have that much money, but that’s about it.

What is it that fans might not know about you that you think is endearing?
I love sports in general, all sports. You name the game, I love watching it. I also think that if people don’t know me, they probably think I’m an arrogant guy [because of the way I walk]but I’m actually a good guy. I have been told several times now by my close friends that when they first saw me, they saw my strings and the way I walked and thought I was arrogant. But they ended up liking me!

If you could play any match in tennis history, what would it be?
I was probably going to play the final of the Australian Open between Djokovic and Nadal, which is where they have to sit down during the event. I would like to see how they feel and how hard they push their bodies.

What are your favorite hobbies?
Sports. Golf. Right now golf. Every chance I get I play golf. I travel with my clubs to some competitions. Every free minute I get I try to get on the golf course and play.

If you had to pick players on the Tour for a golf club who would you pick?
I will go with the Demon [Alex de Minaur]we’ve played a few times. He’s a little better than me, he has a great swing. I’ll probably go with Sebi Korda. He is unbelievable in golf. And maybe I’ll go with Rafa. I want to see that golfer in person!

What’s the coolest benefit you’ve gotten from being a tennis player?
I actually met last week, the Olympic team met with Min Woo Lee, a golfer. We have to meet him. We spent the entire Opening Ceremony together and that was a lot of fun.

What was your time to deprive me of the Tour?
When I hit [Taylor] Fritz in the area [2023] The Australian Open. That was coming off a really tough year for me. Then it was only the second round, but for me it was big then because I hadn’t won many games in a year or so. Coming out of a big slump and going on to beat a Top 10 player at home on a big court in front of a big court, that’s definitely still my favorite memory of my professional career.

If you could achieve one thing on or off the court, what would it be?
On the court I like to win the Slam. Off the court, I want to have a really good family. I’m a big family guy and for me, I want kids. I want two or three children. We’ll see what my girlfriend has to say about that! But I would like a really nice family and everyone to live comfortably and happily.

He travels all over the world. If there is one place you would like to visit, where would it be?
Seychelles. I have been to the Seychelles, but I was only there for three days on a short vacation with my girlfriend last year. Honestly, it’s probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever been and I really want to go back there and just experience it for a month or two, because it’s absolutely amazing.