'I was a wreck': Popyrin bares his soul before US Open bid

Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin is collaborating with former US Open semi-finalist Oscar Piastri's mindset coach, Emma Murray, as he prepares for his upcoming US Open campaign. Popyrin, who has struggled with his rankings, has recently been granted a wildcard entry into this year's tournament. He will face former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov in the first round at Flushing Meadows.

Popyrin's mental state plummeted to the lowest point when he worried he wouldn't enjoy his own wedding following a disappointing month where he dropped to number 139 in the rankings. He sought help from Piastri's trusted mindset coach, Emma Murray, and credits her for assisting him in regaining his contentment.

During an interview ahead of his first-round match against Grigor Dimitrov, Popyrin disclosed that his obsession with achieving career-high rankings and recapturing his former glory had become unhealthy and negatively impacted his tennis performance. He emphasized that he needed to change his perspective on tennis and acknowledged that his progress would not be a quick fix.

Popyrin is currently working with Emma Murray for a brief period, but he has already noticed improvements. He aims to separate his results from his self-worth and maintain a mental approach to his journey, trusting the process he is on.

Popyrin has remained consistent with his team and has not made any significant changes, believing in both himself and his mental progress. He recognizes that any changes he makes in his head can lead him not only to his current position but potentially even further in his tennis career.