Alexei Popyrin pulled off one of the unbelievable ATP Masters 1000 title runs in current historical past on Monday night time, gorgeous World No. 6 Andrey Rublev within the Montreal last to say 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 ignored 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 non-public 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 Ultimate Recap
Popyrin got here into the ultimate with numerous 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 last and could 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 say 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 have been 31 winners to Rublev’s 16, 10 aces, and 50% of return factors.
He now leads the H2H towards Rublev 2-1, following his win earlier this yr in Monte Carlo, and he’s proven that in the event you get on prime of Rublev early, you’ll be able to rattle him mentally and be nearly certain he’ll waste vitality with emotional outbursts.
Nonetheless, the Russian had solely received one match in 5 earlier visits to Canada, so to make the ultimate after a poor run of type is an achievement. If he can by some means discover a method to not blow up after dropping trivial factors, he can have an honest second half of the season.
It means the world for all of the laborious work I’ve put in over time 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 wonderful. Popyrin on his Masters 1000 win.
It’s a really optimistic and actually good week, Actually massive step ahead I believe, and I really feel pleased with myself that I used to be capable of be good all of the week mentally. Even right this moment, if we took me again a few months in the past and even one month in the past and even examine my match towards him at Monte-Carlo once I was dropping, I behaved 10 occasions extra, and it was the primary spherical. Right here, it was a last. Far more strain. Sure, I nonetheless confirmed some emotion right this moment, however in comparison with the matches once I was dropping the identical method, I believe I did a significantly 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.
Match Stats
| Andrey Rublev | Alexei Popyrin | |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 4 | 10 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 3 |
| 1st Serve Proportion | 44% | 59% |
| 1st Serve Factors Received | 63% (17/27) | 84% (32/38) |
| 2nd Serve Factors Received | 40% (14/35) | 35% (9/26) |
| Break Factors Saved | 56% (5/9) | 83% (5/6) |
| 1st Return Factors Received | 16% (6/38) | 37% (10/27) |
| 2nd Return Factors Received | 65% (17/26) | 60% (21/35) |
| Break Factors Transformed | 17% (1/6) | 44% (4/9) |
| Winners | 16 | 31 |
| Unforced Errors | 15 | 10 |
| Web Factors Received | 63% (5/8) | 73% (8/11) |
| Max Factors In Row | 4 | 7 |
| Service Factors Received | 50% (31/62) | 64% (41/64) |
| Return Factors Received | 36% (23/64) | 50% (31/62) |
| Whole Factors Received | 43% (54/126) | 57% (72/126) |
| Max Video games In Row | 2 | 3 |
| Service Video games Received | 56% (5/9) | 89% (8/9) |
| Return Video games Received | 11% (1/9) | 44% (4/9) |
| Whole Video games Received | 33% (6/18) | 67% (12/18) |
Highlights
Did the results of the ultimate shock you?
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