Dmitry Popko: The exhibition master from Kazakhstan
Dmitry Popko was the busiest exhibition player during the COVID-19 suspension of the ATP tour. The Kazakh stood 116 times for exhibition fights.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Aug 16, 2020, 10:46 am
It starts again. The women did it last week in Palermo, now the men in Prague are following suit. The 2020 tennis season, the ATP, and WTA tours, they are back in operation. While the absolute top players among the men will have to wait until next week before things get down to business at the Western & Southern Open in New York City, the Challenger Tour is already celebrating its comeback this weekend.
Namely in Prague, where two Challenger events are on the program in August. Just a look at the field of participants shows that the players were just waiting to be back on the field for competitive tennis. With Stan Wawrinka a three-time Grand Slam champion is at the start in the Czech capital, Jiri Vesely, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Pierre-Hugues Herbert also ensure an above-average prominent field of participants.
116 appearances during the interruption
But there is one name that is particularly interesting that has a much less noticeable place in the draw: Dmitry Popko. The Kazakh goes into the race as an unseeded player, would be world number 176. not really a player to consider at this tournament. But there is one fact that makes it really exciting to take a closer look at Popko's performances in Prague.
Since the tour was interrupted, the Kazakh has been on the pitch 116 times for exhibition fights, and there are already 132 matches that the 23-year-old was allowed to play in the 2020 calendar year. For comparison: Dominic Thiem, by far the most active player in the world's elite, was on the field for just 28 times - and was therefore generally considered to be a particularly hard-working player.
Possible quarter-finals with Stan Wawrinka
Yes, Popko really wants to play tennis, you can't deny that to the youngster from Kazakhstan. In Prague, Popko faces Jay Clark in the first round, before Sumit Nagal, the number six of the tournament, would wait. In the quarter-finals, there could be a really big test against Stan Wawrinka, who goes into the race appropriately in top position. In any case, Popko cannot complain about a lack of match practice.