Alexei Popyrin delivered a concerning admission following his Australian Open exit, telling reporters "it can't keep going on like this" after falling to Alexandre Muller in the opening round.
The Sydney native, visibly emotional during his post-match press conference, has watched his world ranking plummet from 19th to 54th over recent months.
His voice wavering when asked about a potential turnaround, Popyrin said: "I don't know. I don't know.
"For me it's really tough to take. I just think I do a lot. I work a lot. I think about my career a lot."
The five-set defeat to Muller capped a dismal start to the season for the Australian.
Popyrin's Melbourne Park disappointment followed first-round losses at both the Brisbane International and Adelaide International, marking three successive early exits to begin 2026.
The 25-year-old's struggles extend back several months, during which he took time away from the tour for mental health reasons and battled a back injury.
Alexei Popyrin was dejected after losing at the Australian Open
|GETTY
His ranking slide has been compounded by an inability to defend his Canadian Open crown, a title that represented the high point of his career.
"And to have results like this and to have results that I've had the last couple of months, and obviously to start the year, it's not easy to take, even though I feel like I'm playing well and I feel like I'm doing everything that I want to do," he explained.
The match against Muller saw Popyrin squander multiple chances to secure victory, going down 2-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6 after holding a serve for the match in the fifth set and coming close in the fourth.
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PA"Felt like I was in control nearly all the match. Couldn't close it out. That's about it," he reflected.
"I just couldn't come up with the finishing touch nearly three times today, and that's really disappointing."
Physical issues added to his woes, with the Australian requiring treatment for a pre-existing calf problem during the contest.
"It kind of flared up there," Popyrin said, noting he had cramped at Melbourne Park for a second consecutive year despite rarely experiencing such problems elsewhere.
The weight of performing before his home supporters clearly affected Popyrin, who became tearful discussing his inability to deliver for the Melbourne crowd.
Alexei Popyrin was outclassed by Alexandre Muller at the Australian Open
|GETTY
"I really want to put on a show and really want to win for the crowd. They're there for me, and I can't win. It's not easy," he admitted.
Looking ahead, the Australian confirmed he would miss next month's Davis Cup qualifying ties as he attempts to arrest his ranking decline.
"Nothing beats playing for your country," he added.
"But at the same time I have to think about my year."