Alexei Popyrin caught up in 'disrespectful' act as Aussie's fairytale run at US Open ended

Tennis fans have blasted the 'disrespectful' US Open crowd for cheering Alexei Popyrin's faults and unforced errors in his clash with Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round in New York. Popyrin was never going to have the crowd on his side against the American home favourite, but many felt spectators stepped over the line with their patriotism on Sunday night (Monday Australian time) as Tiafoe prevailed 6-4 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-3.

Loud cheers could be heard around Arthur Ashe Stadium whenever Popyrin served a fault - even in between first and second serves. Fans also cheered every time the Aussie made an error, and it appeared to rattle Popyrin somewhat.

The Aussie dropped the first set 6-4, but grabbed an early break in the second. He served for the second set at 5-4, but was broken to love in a brutal development that some fans labelled a 'choke'. Tiafoe then took the set to a tiebreak and won it 7-3, as things started to unravel for Popyrin.

However the Aussie managed to right the ship and avoided a straight-sets whitewash, taking the third set 6-2. But he couldn't continue the comeback and dropped his serve at a pivotal time in the fourth. He then missed what should have been an easy winner that would have seen him break back to 5-4, before watching on as Tiafoe converted to seal the match.

TV viewers took to social media to vent their frustrations over the cheering of Popyrin's errors. One person wrote: "I'm loving Tiafoe's fighting spirit but HATING the crowd cheering every time Popyrin misses a serve. I hate it when any crowd does that, but the US Open always seems to be the worst for it. So disrespectful."

Another commented: "I get Tiafoe is the American at the US Open, but the crowd being so solely behind him and basically silent when Popyrin does anything positive is pretty shameful." While others described it as "rude" and "classless".

The US Open crowd isn't exactly known for its class, and previously drew the ire of viewers when they jeered Dan Evans against Alex de Minaur on Saturday. Evans was clearly injured but didn't want to retire hurt, prompting some jeers from spectators in the final game of the match. De Minaur put his finger to his lips to 'shoosh' the spectators, winning praise around the tennis world.

The loss for Popyrin means de Minaur and Jordan Thompson are the lone Aussies remaining in the draw. The compatriots will face off in the fourth round on Tuesday (Aussie time), meaning Australia will have at least one man in the quarters.

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Dimitrov, Fritz and Zverev advance to US Open quarter-finals

Tiafoe will now face Grigor Dimitrov, who managed to withstand Andrey Rublev's comeback attempt to return to the US Open quarter-finals in five sets. Dimitrov jumped out to a two-set lead as a frustrated Rublev smashed his racquet, before the Russian charged back in the third and fourth sets.

But Dimitrov regained control in the fifth to reach his eighth grand slam quarter-final with a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 3-6 6-3 victory. The Bulgarian beat Roger Federer in the quarters in 2019 to match his best result in a major by reaching the semis. "It brings back such good memories from 2019, so I thought, 'Why not another five-setter?'" Dimitrov said.

American 12th seed Taylor Fritz had earlier made the final eight by beating Norwegian star Casper Ruud 3-6 6-4 6-3 6-2. Brandon Nakashima was trying to make it an all-American quarter-final match-up, but fell shot against No.4 seed Alexander Zverev, who won 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2.

with AAP