Australian junior's big Davis Cup passion

Newly crowned French Open junior champion Alexei Popyrin is eyeing world No.1, grand slam glory and Davis Cup for Australia after his breakthrough in Paris.

Alexei Popyrin

Newly crowned French Open junior champion Alexei Popyrin is eyeing world No.1. (AAP)

He's the son of a former Russian ballroom dancing champion waiting for a call from Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

No, Alexei Popyrin isn't a household name in Australian tennis just yet - but he could as big as Nick Kyrgios before we know it.

Managed by the same company, the 17-year-old is on track to become the first Australian since Kyrgios to top the junior world rankings after his French Open boys' triumph in Paris last week.

With a power game like Juan Martin del Potro, the special 196cm talent has lofty ambitions.

"In terms of goals for myself, it's for sure being No.1 and winning grand slams - more than one grand slam, that's for sure," Popyriv told AAP after becoming the first Australian to win the French Open junior singles since Phil Dent in 1968.

The Sydney-born teenager is mindful that Roger Federer, fellow legends Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander and world No.1 Andy Murray are among an elite group of just 11 players to have won junior and senior grand slam titles in the professional era.

But he's "definitely" prepared to work hard to make a successful transition to the professional ranks.

"I've already started. I haven't taken a day off since I've been back from Paris," Popyrin said.

"I just want to improve. That's my goal for the rest of this year, next year and my whole career, to improve and see where I can can better and hopefully I'll be able to win a grand slam."

But it's Davis Cup which Popyrin is most passionate about.

Make no mistake, despite being based in Spain since he was 11, the youngster's allegiance remains very much with Australia.

"It's been a dream for me to play and win it for Australia. It's just been in the back of my mind since I was about a 10-year-old," he said.

"My first coach, Kim Warwick, kept on saying that it's great and ever since I started watching the Davis Cup a couple of years ago live, it's just been a dream for me to play and to be part of it."

Popyrin was courtside when Australia lost a thrilling semi-final tie to Great Britain in Glasgow in 2015, recalling what was supposed to be Hewitt's last ever Davis Cup match, a doubles cliffhanger with Sam Groth against Andy and Jamie Murray, with particular fondness.

"The doubles especially was unreal," he said.

Now he's hoping Hewitt will use him for "orange boy" duties during Australia's 2017 semi-final in Belgium in September.

"Lleyton sent me a congratulations message (after the French Open)," he said.

"Davis Cup's a dream for me, but there's a lot of players who deserve it so I'll respect their decision and keep working hard."


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Source: AAP



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