Popyrin's rosy outlook after bumpy 2021
Alexey Popyrin admitted he was "stuck" last year because his lack of confidence and direction spoiled his return to the world top 100.
The Australian will enjoy a wildcard entry on the court of his childhood at the Sydney Tennis Classic after a disappointing first-round exit in the summer set in Melbourne last week.
The world number 61 returned to the double figure rankings after winning his maiden ATP event in Singapore last year.
The habit of rising to the occasion has seen Dalit make the third round twice in both his home major and the US Open.
The 22-year-old admitted that inconsistency has hurt him, especially last year when "it went downhill from there after a clay-court season".
He said, "Last year I started the year very well...
"But in the middle of last year... I was kind of stuck, not confident in my game, not playing the best tennis I could play."
It will be important to dispel those doubts, although he presses for a top-50 berth, perhaps best served by watching replays of 13th seed David Goffin's own first-round upset at Melbourne Park last year.
"Try and don't get too down on yourself after a defeat and try and get out there and just believe in yourself, because that's probably the most important thing that I have, that's faith in my abilities." Which can get me where I want to be," he said.
Happy memories will inspire him in Sydney this week, Popirin's first assignment as difficult Spaniard Pedro Martinez.
"There is no pressure (of playing at home), if anything happens, it excites me even more," he added.
"I was here watching tournaments when I was a kid. I remember I found one of Igor Andreev's sweatbands, and I was really excited about that."
