By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday August 12, 2024
The 25-year-old Aussie played a picture-perfect final to earn his biggest title to date.
Photo Source: TTV
Prior to this week Alexei Popyrin had never played a final bigger than an ATP 250. After tonight’s stunning performance at the National Bank Open in Montreal, the Aussie has a Masters 1000 title under his belt.
25-year-old Popyrin played a pitch-perfect final and took down Andrey Rublev, the No.5 seed, in a rare Monday final in Montreal, 6-2, 6-4. With his win Popyrin becomes the first Aussie to win a Masters 1000 title since 2003, and the fourth Aussie to ever achieve the feat.
He was out of the gates quickly, and rarely skipped a beat.
Taking advantage of a shaky opening set from Rublev, one in which the Russian twice double-faulted on break point, Popyrin raced through the opener and jumped out to a break lead quickly in the second set as well.
“I was not serving well,” Rublev said. “Of course, when I was not serving well and I started not good, you start to feel too many thoughts in your head. He was playing even more confident. All the important moments he played really well.”
Rublev was much tougher to contend with in the second set but Popyrin had all the answers as he won three of the final four games and weathered the tension of the final game as he served out his biggest career victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
Popyrin only won 9 of 26 second serve points, but Rublev couldn’t exploit it effectively as the Aussie saved five of six break points he faced and dialed up the intensity on his return game as well.
Rublev only made 44 percent of his first serves and he was broken four times in the match. After he had rallied to level at three-all in the second set Popyrin produced a rousing response as he nailed a forehand winner to take a 4-3 lead.
It was all he would need.
“I had a chance. I had a moment, but I was not ready, and that's it,” Rublev said. “I didn't play well again that game. I did mistakes, and he broke me straight away.”
Popyrin’s victory caps a magnificent run in Montreal that saw him defeat five Top-20 players – Ben Shelton, Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz, Sebastian Korda and Rublev. He also saved three match points in his round of 16 clash with Dimitrov, making the title run all the more dramatic.
He is the eighth player to win an ATP title from match points down in 2024.
He will move to a career-high ranking of No.23 with his win.