"I need to stay away from tennis courts and rackets for a while," Popyrin opens up about his mental struggles

Popyrin's run at Wimbledon 2025 was short-lived, as he was eliminated in the first round by local wildcard and world No. 461 Fery (6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4). With just four wins on grass this season, the Australian has struggled on the surface. In an interview shared by *Tennis Up To Date*, the 25-year-old player opened up about needing a break after this latest defeat:

"I need to stay away from tennis courts and rackets for a while. After today’s match, I felt numb. I didn’t feel sad or happy. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before. I think it shows me why this result happened—because I was unmotivated and not driven enough before Wimbledon. This can’t happen again."

Popyrin had already spoken about his mental challenges during the Queen’s tournament just days earlier. His opponent, meanwhile, received a wildcard entry. After facing the 20th seed, he will next take on world No. 59 Darderi.