Popyrin humbled at Wimbledon as ailing Tommo saves day
Big hope Alexei Popyrin has crashed out of Wimbledon sensationally to a Briton ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue Australia's calamitous start to the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam.
Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday.
As the sun burned down on one of the hottest days in the Championships' annals, most of the huge Australian contingent of 17, the country's biggest battalion of players in 30 years, were swiftly put in the shade with Kim Birrell, Chris O'Connell and Olivia Gadecki all losing.
But their defeats paled in comparison to Popyrin's defeat as he went down to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old local Wimbledon lad who took full advantage of his 'home' advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member.
Sydneysider Popyrin has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and after an impressive showing at the French Open where he was Australia's last man standing, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on the cramped court 15.
It came as a huge let-down after Thompson had brushed aside his injury worries to deliver the first green-and-gold victory.
The 31-year-old battler summoned up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 against Czech Vit Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon in successive tournaments.
In all, it was the Sydneysider's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam but at what cost?
'Tommo', who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he'd now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Earlier, under blue skies more redolent of her Gold Coast home than London, Birrell achieved the unenviable distinction of being the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships.
The 27-year-old, making her debut at the grass court slam, never recovered from a nervy start in which she surrendered the first set to No.22 seed and last year's semi-finalist Donna Vekic without winning a game.
A much-improved battling second set prompted hope, at 4-4, of the Victorian forcing a decider, but the Croatian star then completed a 6-0 6-4 victory in 79 minutes.
Birrell, who saved one match point but then watched her forehand shoot long on the second, left the English capital with some hard-earned experience and Stg 66,000 ($A138,500) as her reward for battling through qualifying.
O'Connell found the ever tricky, veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2 6-4 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours.
Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra in one hour 40 minutes.
