Our boy conquers the clay

PATRICK Mouratoglou, the man who has guided Serena Williams to 10 majors, predicts a big future for Alex Popyrin.

Popyrin, 17, is the first Australian to claim the French Open boys’ title since dual major finalist Phil Dent in 1968. Along with Dent, he is now among only five male Australians to triumph in Paris juniors.

The others are grand slam titans Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson and John Newcombe (twice), who advanced to win 27 singles majors, collectively.

Mouratoglou says Popyrin, who now trains at the Frenchman’s academy in Nice, has immeasurable talent.

“He has huge potential,” Mouratoglou said after Popyrin contested possibly his last junior event before tackling the lower tiers of the professional circuit.

“I had never seen him play matches but now that I have, I think that even more.

“You can see he knows how to win — which is something very important — and to win a tournament like this means something even bigger.”

A purist, Mouratoglou believes the best way to develop talent is on outdoor clay and values French Open junior success above all others.

“I think it [French Open] is the most difficult junior tournament to win,” he declared.

“So when you win this one, it means a lot in terms of potential . . . he already plays at a super high level.”