Alexei Popyrin has named former world No.6 Wayne Ferreira as his new coach, just days after announcing a personnel shakeup.
The 25-year-old revealed the news to The First Serve after exiting the second-round of Miami in a three-set defeat to unseeded Russian Roman Safiullin.
Popyrin said he was "coachless" throughout the week as a result of mutually agreeing to part ways with now-former coach Xavier Malisse.
The pair enjoyed a successful three-year working relationship, with Popyrin achieving a career-high No.23 and becoming the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 to win a Masters 1000 title.
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After confirming Neville Godwin will remain part of his coaching team, Popyrin shed light on who will fill the void of Malisse as his main coach.
"We've agreed terms with Wayne Ferreira, so he's going to join us now," he told The First Serve.
"It was after (the split with Malisse) happened really quick, and I'm grateful for that, but (Ferreira) was the first name on my list, and I'm just grateful for him to find the opportunity and the time to work with me.
"I think it's going to be a great addition to the team. Him and (Neville) get along really well; they've known each other since six-years-old."
Ferreira, a two-time Australian Open semi-finalist, has previously coached Frances Tiafoe and Jack Draper.
Understandably dejected after another tight loss, Popyrin touched on Malisse and why it was the right call to move in a different direction.
"It was a tough choice," he admitted. "I think he needed a change and I think the overall team environment wasn't too great and we both just needed a change at this kind of moment.
"We look back on the positives and the great times we had, the rise we had together. I think when we were together, the last couple of months, there just wasn't really that click. We both saw it and felt it."
Although Popyrin acknowledged that they both anticipated the decision to become official, he also added a cryptic response. "For me, it was a little bit of a surprise to be fair, but it is what it is," Popyrin stated as he spoke about Malisse no longer being in his corner.
"I had the idea that this was going to be my team for a long time, but I guess it is the nature of tennis."
Popyrin has endured a challenging start to 2025, failing to make it past the second-round in all seven tournaments he has entered - exiting in the opening round on four occasions.
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