Australian tennis ace Alexei Popyrin has reconsidered his Australian Open preparations. He’s now imparting his expertise to players from the Collingwood Football Club in Dubai. Popyrin, the world No. 54, just made headlines as one of the biggest upsets. He is hellbent on getting his place back in the top 20 players, a place he enjoyed a month ago when he peaked at No. 19. Popyrin is returning from a two-month layoff due to a back injury. He’s already started an extraordinary pre-season blitz six weeks out from his home slam in Sydney.
Since moving to Dubai, Popyrin has taken advantage of the opportunity to meet with Collingwood’s AFL professionals. On the court, together, they share knowledge and skills as well. He expressed his admiration for their skills, stating, “I was actually really surprised at how well they hit the ball.” Popyrin pointed out the superb forehands of the players, but politely joked that their backhands need some work.
Beyond enabling Popyrin to share his expertise, their interaction provided him with an exciting opportunity to learn from the AFL athletes. “It’s cool to just pick someone else’s brain,” said Isaac Quaynor, one of the Collingwood players involved in the training sessions. Quaynor found Popyrin’s worldly experiences—particularly his move to Dubai—fascinating, stating, “Even just his upbringing, how much he’s moved around the world. I think it’s super, super interesting.”
Now as he prepares for the Australian Open, Popyrin is working to bequeath some changes to his own game. “I think it’s a well-known fact that my backhand needs a bit of work, so we’re getting there,” he commented. He expanded on some of the equipment changes he’s made in search of that improvement.
The last year has not been easy on Popyrin. His back injury has become one of the most visible, even emblematic, obstacles he has overcome. His dedication to both recovery and personal growth definitely hasn’t waivered as he trains for the next IFBB Pro qualifying tournament. This creative partnership makes Collingwood players more athletic on the field. Beyond that, it really has built a great sense of friendship among the sports.
