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AAP
AAP
Sport
Melissa Woods

Popyrin shocks world No.6 Auger-Aliassime

Alexei Popyrin claimed one of the biggest scalps of his career in beating Felix Auger-Aliassime. (Michael Errey/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Australian youngster Alexei Popyrin has caused an Adelaide International boilover, shocking Canadian world No.6 Felix Auger-Aliassime in their first-round battle.

The 23-year-old has two wins against top 10 players to his name but both were mid-match retirements.

This time the world No.120 proved he was the real deal with a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) victory to send the second seed packing.

The Sydneysider who came through qualifying, trailed in the 0-3 in the second set and was also down a mini-break in the tiebreak but both times clawed his way back.

He only needed one match point to wrap up the biggest win of his career.

Meanwhile, showcourt 1 was overflowing with fans who packed in to see former world No.1 Novak Djokovic play his first match in Australia in two years.

Playing doubles, Djokovic paired with Vasek Pospisil to take on Gonzalo Escobar and Tomislav Brkic in the first round.

Djokovic, who was deported last year ahead of the Australian Open, was warmly welcomed on to court with a loud cheer as fans queued to see the Serbian superstar in action.

But he was unable to deliver a win, falling to the doubles specialists 4-6 6-3 (10-5).

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