Popyrin Powers His Way to Montreal Title

Alexei Popyrin pulled off one of the inconceivable ATP Masters 1000 title runs in current historical past on Monday night time, beautiful World No. 6 Andrey Rublev within the Montreal remaining to assert a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Whereas Popyrin has been driving the crest of a wave this week, I made Rublev an 80/20 favorite heading into the ultimate. Primarily based on what I’d seen, the Russian hit the ball crisply in all his matches, and his win over Sinner was very spectacular because it made him the one participant to beat Alcaraz and Sinner this season.

But, I had neglected the truth that the Australian had a 5-1 file in finals in any respect ranges. He flipped the script, dominating along with his heavy recreation as he landed 18 forehand winners en path to victory in 1 hour and 31 minutes.

With the victory, Popyrin moved up 39 spots within the rankings to crack the highest 25 for the primary time. He’s additionally the primary Aussie to win a Masters 1000 since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.

He heads over to Cincinnati through personal jet for the primary time, the place he’ll face Carlos Alcaraz within the second spherical if he defeats Gael Monfils in his opening match.

Fast Last Recap

Popyrin got here into the ultimate with various court docket time in his legs, having saved three match factors to upset Dimitrov, come inside two factors of defeat to Hurkacz after which ending Seb Korda’s eight-match profitable streak within the semi-finals.

In consequence, I assumed he could be a step slower within the remaining and can be the goal of a Rublev groundstroke barrage from each wings.

Nonetheless, he executed a recreation plan of aggressive, high-risk tennis from the phrase go. He leveraged his booming serve and highly effective forehand to interrupt Rublev within the opening recreation and by no means appeared again.

Even when he felt drained, he by no means allowed Rublev to claim his recreation. As an alternative, he opted to redline his recreation, profitable 18/21 behind his first serve within the first set and saving all 4 break factors he confronted.

Within the second, it was extra of the identical as Popryin danced round Rublev’s second serve to hit booming forehand returns, and even after he relinquished a break of serve within the second set at 3-3, he responded immediately to interrupt once more, this time sustaining it to seize the title.

The standout stats had been 31 winners to Rublev’s 16, 10 aces, and 50% of return factors.

He now leads the H2H in opposition to Rublev 2-1, following his win earlier this yr in Monte Carlo, and he’s proven that should you get on prime of Rublev early, you may rattle him mentally and be virtually positive he’ll waste power with emotional outbursts.

Nonetheless, the Russian had solely gained one match in 5 earlier visits to Canada, so to make the ultimate after a poor run of kind is an achievement. If he can someway discover a manner to not blow up after shedding trivial factors, he can have a good second half of the season.

It means the world for all of the arduous work I’ve put in through the years and all of the sacrifices I’ve made. Not simply me however my household, my girlfriend, my workforce, and everyone round me. They’ve sacrificed their entire lives for me, and for me to win this for them is simply superb. Popyrin on his Masters 1000 win.

It’s a really constructive and actually good week, Actually huge step ahead I believe, and I really feel happy with myself that I used to be in a position to be good all of the week mentally. Even immediately, if we took me again a few months in the past and even one month in the past and even examine my match in opposition to him at Monte-Carlo after I was shedding, I behaved 10 occasions extra, and it was the primary spherical. Right here, it was a remaining. Way more stress. Sure, I nonetheless confirmed some emotion immediately, however in comparison with the matches after I was shedding the identical manner, I believe I did a a lot better job. That’s why I had a little bit likelihood within the second set, however it was not my time. Rublev on his run in Montreal.