The Australian No.2 Popyrin, who's been sliding inexorably down the world rankings after roaring into the top-20 in 2024, enjoyed what was comfortably his best win of 2026 at 1.05 in the morning on Sunday at Rome's Foro Italico, outlasting rising Czech star Jakub Mensik 6-3 2-6 6-4.
The last Australian left in either the men's or women's singles, Popyrin fought tigerishly to get across the line and set up a third-round clash with the seemingly invincible Sinner, who had earlier on Saturday made an imperious start to his bid to win a sixth Masters 1000 title in a row.
Popyrin, who'd started his Roman revival by beating local hero Matteo Berrettini in the first round on the main Campo Centrale court, again looked at his striking best, despite only getting on to court at about 11pm after an exceptionally long day's program.
He played a brilliant first set against Mensik, and there looked only one winner as the 20-year-old then also required a medical timeout after turning his right ankle .
But with the injury strapped and gaining the lion's share of the cheers from a decent-sized crowd, who'd stayed until after midnight with rain also beginning to patter down, world No.28 Mensik fought back to outplay a slightly distracted looking Popyrin in the second stanza.Â
But the 26-year-old knuckled down admirably in the final set, holding on grimly as Mensik earned two break points early and then emerging the stronger of the pair at the death, playing an accomplished game at 4-5, striking a 21st winner en route to earning his decisive third break of the night.
'Poppy' punched the air in delight after achieving what's his best victory, in terms of ranking, since he beat Holger Rune at last July's Canadian Masters.
It's a great boost for him as he targets the French Open where he won the junior title nine years ago, but before then there's the little matter of taking on Italy's national hero, who shows absolutely no signs of vulnerability.
For a few hours earlier, Sinner had opened his bid for yet more tennis history on Campo Centrale with a seemingly effortless 6-3 6-4 victory over Austrian Sebastian Ofner in front of his adoring public.
If he takes his home crown, he will become just the second man after Novak Djokovic to complete the career set of victories in all nine Masters 1000 tournaments.
Gunning for a sixth successive Masters crown, Sinner, who's lost just two matches this season, didn't face a break point and dropped just six points behind his first serve in what was his 29th successive Masters match win, equalling Roger Federer's best mark.
Sinner has already met Popyrin this year, dismantling him in Doha, but the Aussie does have the distant memory of having beaten him on clay five years ago in Madrid.
