Alexei Popyrin delivered a stunning performance in Montreal to claim his first Masters 1000 title, becoming the first Australian in over two decades to achieve this feat. In a dominant display, Popyrin overpowered world No. 6 Andrey Rublev with a 6-2, 6-4 victory in just under an hour and a half on Tuesday, marking the most significant win of his career.
Combining finesse with sheer power, the 25-year-old Popyrin outclassed Rublev to secure his third ATP Tour title. His victory brought an end to Australia’s 21-year wait for a Masters 1000 champion, with Lleyton Hewitt being the last to achieve this milestone by winning back-to-back titles in Indian Wells in 2002 and 2003 when he was the world No. 1.
Rublev, who had previously ousted Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals, was aiming for his 17th career title. However, it was Popyrin who took control from the outset, starting the match with a scorching forehand return winner and breaking Rublev’s serve to love.
Rublev’s frustration was evident early, as he struggled with his serve, committing consecutive double faults that handed Popyrin the break. The Australian capitalized on the momentum, holding his serve with three aces to fend off two break points in the fourth game, and quickly surged to a 4-1 lead with another service break. Popyrin then brought up set point with a blistering 167kph off-forehand winner and sealed the set in just 35 minutes.
Popyrin continued to dominate in the second set, breaking Rublev’s serve in the second game and holding a point for a double break. Despite a brief setback when Rublev broke back to level the score at 3-3, Popyrin immediately regained the upper hand with another powerful forehand winner to break Rublev once more.
The match’s intensity peaked during a grueling 25-shot rally, which Rublev won. But Popyrin quickly recovered, serving his 10th ace to earn match point. Although Rublev managed to save two match points, Popyrin remained composed, eventually converting his third opportunity to clinch the Montreal title.
Popyrin’s victory in Montreal adds to his titles in Singapore (2021) and Umag, Croatia (2023), maintaining his perfect record in the ATP finals. Reflecting on Popyrin’s remarkable achievement, Rublev praised his opponent, saying, “I want to congratulate Alexei on an incredible week. He had a tough draw, finishing late last night, yet he still managed to win the title. It’s a significant achievement.”
With this victory, Popyrin not only secured a $1.05 million prize but also firmly established himself as a rising star on the ATP Tour, bringing renewed excitement to Australian tennis.
