Alexei Popyrin vs Patrick Kypson Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Popyrin in dire form heading into Houston debut

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Tue 31 Mar 2026 06:06

Andrew Hendrie 31 Mar 2026

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Alexei Popyrin vs Patrick Kypson predictions for Tuesday's ATP Houston R1 match
Popyrin is a woeful 1-16 in his last 17 matches vs top 100 players
Kypson beat another Aussie in Alex de Minaur earlier this season
Prediction: Kypson to cover with a +2.5 start & Under 22.5 games
The match is scheduled to start around 11.30am AEDT on Wednesday April 1

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Patrick Kypson (Photo by Getty Images)

Alexei Popyrin vs Patrick Kypson Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Alexei Popyrin is desperate for wins as he prepares for his maiden Houston campaign - he takes on Patrick Kypson in the opening round on Tuesday night.

Alexei Popyrin vs Patrick Kypson Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Popyrin vs Kypson Stats & Trends
Popyrin vs Kypson Head To Head
Alexei Popyrin Form Analysis
Patrick Kypson Form Analysis
Popyrin vs Kypson Live Stream

Popyrin, the Aussie No. 2, has been in absolutely woeful form dating back to August and he's showing no signs of turning things around. Indeed, Popyrin is a dreadful 1-8 vs top 100 players in 2026 and most of those defeats have been fairly one-sided. Now, Popyrin will be playing Houston for the first time - it's not an easy tournament played on traditional clay, instead players compete on Har-Tru and it could take the Aussie - who isn't timing the ball at all right now - a while to adjust.

Kypson is no world-beater (although he did conquer Aussie No. 1 Alex de Minaur earlier this year in Acapulco), but I just can't back Popyrin against anyone right now - especially with the bookies placing him as favourite. I'll take Kypson with a +2.5 start and also Under 22.5 total games - this covers another easy win for Popyrin's opponent or if the Aussie finally decides to get it together and produce the tennis everyone knows he's capable of.

Popyrin vs Kypson Stats & Trends

Popyrin is 1-8 vs top 100 players in 2026
Popyrin is 1-16 vs top 100 players since August 2025
Popyrin has seen Under 22.5 games in five of his last six matches vs top 100 players
Kypson is 2-2 vs top 50 players in his career
Kypson has seen Under 22.5 games in four of his last six matches

Popyrin vs Kypson Head To Head

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Alexei Popyrin Form Analysis

2026 Record: 2-8
ATP Houston Record: 0-0
Current Ranking: No. 45
Career-High Ranking: No. 19 (August 2025)

By some miracle, Popyrin is still ranked inside the top 50 despite winning one match against a top 100 player since August.

It goes without saying the Aussie will be tumbling out of the top 50 and maybe soon the top 100 if he doesn't get his act together for the clay season, where he is defending Monte Carlo quarter-final and Roland Garros R16 points.

Popyrin seems completely lost on court at the moment - his lone win over a top 100 player came against Kamil Majchrzak in Dubai, but he's since lost his last three matches against Jakub Mensik, Jenson Brooksby and Marin Cilic without winning a single set.

The 26-year-old is making his Houston debut this tournament and will be hoping a change in surface sparks a change in fortunes.

Patrick Kypson Form Analysis

2026 Record: 1-4
ATP Houston Record: 0-1
Current Ranking: No. 96
Career-High Ranking: No. 95 (March 2026)

Kypson is basically at his career-high ranking and it will be interesting to see if he can push further towards the top 50 - or if he's destined to be one of those 80-150 floaters for the bulk of his career.

The American has enjoyed a nice little period at home on hardcourts to start the year - he made the semi-finals of the San Diego Challenger before qualifying for the main draw of the ATP 500 event in Dallas.

However, Kypson's highlight undoubtedly came in Acapulco - where again after qualifying for the main draw - he secured his first top 10 win by outlasting Alex de Minaur in a final set tiebreak.

The 26-year-old hasn't really built on that win - he lost his next match in Acapulco to Brandon Nakashima before first round qualifying exits at Indian Wells and Miami.