Unseeded Alexei Popyrin has beaten Sebastian Korda and Hubert Hurkacz back-to-back on Sunday to assure a huge rankings breakthrough.
Montreal, Canada, 12 August 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Alexei Popyrin has long hinted that a big result is well within his capabilities only for injuries or inconsistency to put paid to further progression.
A maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Montreal this week has come at an ideal time, a coming-of-age reward days after his 25th birthday in a season that initially showed promise before a series of stumbling blocks – more injuries and inconsistencies – slowed his climb.
In a rain-delayed schedule, Popyrin stunned the in-form Sebastian Korda 7-6(0) 6-3 only hours after he brought down fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5 in a near-three-hour thriller.
Alexei Popyrin. Masters 1000 finalist 🙌
This is what it means 🥹 #GoAussies #OBN24 pic.twitter.com/R5dkXUB3zf
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) August 12, 2024
That brought his tally to four top 20 victims in succession – including two top 10 – and a shot at toppling Andrey Rublev at a second Masters 1000 event this season.
“It means the world. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s an amazing achievement for myself and sometimes you’ve got to pat yourself on the back,” Popyrin said. “I think I’ll do that tonight but tomorrow it’s all hands on deck and back to work.”
In April, Popyrin dethroned defending Monte Carlo champion Rublev before compatriot Alex de Minaur halted his push for a maiden ATP Masters 1000 clay-court quarterfinal.
On top of a semifinal run in Doha in February and having tested Novak Djokovic in four-set defeats in the second round of the Australian Open and third round of Wimbledon there were glimpses a breakout run was close.
“It means a lot. You know, I’ve put a lot of work in this year and last year but especially this year,” Popyrin said. “It finally has paid off a little bit and hopefully it just keeps going because I’m putting in the work and this is a testament for all the work that I’ve put in.”
Get the popcorn ready 🍿 🏆 👀@AlexeiPopyrin99 has his eyes on the @OBNmontreal trophy. Go Poppy! #GoAussies #OBN24 pic.twitter.com/kvYSdRmDo7
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) August 12, 2024
Still riding the highs of representing Australia at the Paris Olympics, Popyrin has had no qualms switching back to hard courts in Montreal this week.
Following a win over world…
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