ABC Sport.<\/a><\/p>\n‘I just felt kind of like yeah, this is what happens (defeat).<\/p>\n
‘I’ve never had that feeling before in my career. ‘Burnout is a big thing on the tour, so we [Popyrin’s team] had to rectify it. And we did.’<\/p>\n
![\"Aussie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101483093-15027123-Aussie_tennis_star_Alexei_Popyrin_has_revealed_his_new_focus_off-a-16_17559316835.jpeg\")
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Aussie tennis star Alexei Popyrin has revealed his new focus off the court as he looks to avoid tour burnout – Ed Sheeran’s music and reading one book a week<\/p>\n
![\"Popyrin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101483101-15027123-image-m-94_1755928766125.jpg\")
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Popyrin needed a different approach after his shock defeat to world number 461 Arthur Fery in the first round of Wimbledon – and Ed Sheeran’s music has been part of the process<\/p>\n
A recent holiday to Bermuda with his fianc\u00e9e Amy saw\u00a0Popyrin rediscover his love of books.<\/p>\n
His favourite genres are science fiction and fantasy – but Popyrin also read the masterpiece 1984 by George Orwell.<\/p>\n
And’s Sheeran music is just as important.<\/p>\n
Popyrin attended one of the singer’s recent concerts in England, with his favourite song You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.<\/p>\n
And if Popyrin outclasses\u00a0Ruusuvuori – as is widely expected – world number one Jannik Sinner potentially awaits in the second round at Flushing Meadows.<\/p>\n
Not that the Sydney-raised star is worried.<\/p>\n
Popyrin – who beat Novak Djokovic in the third round at the US Open last year – is\u00a0 convinced he is now a better player.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, fellow Aussie and eighth seed Alex de Minaur will face compatriot Chris O’Connell in New York – and ‘Demon’ knows he is in for a battle.<\/p>\n
‘I’m not expecting anything to be easy,’ he told reporters.<\/p>\n
‘Chris is a very tricky opponent because he’s got a lot of different weapons and has quite a unique playing style.’<\/p>\n
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