Alexei Popyrin north of the US border? That’s a superb factor for the 25-year-old Aussie, who rallied previous Holger Rune on Saturday night time in Toronto to stretch his profitable streak in Canada to 9 victories, 4-6 6-2 6-3.
After the match he signed the digicam “I like Canada X 2”.
Final 12 months’s champion in Montreal reached his second Masters quarterfinal of 2025, and his fourth total as he took out the 22-year-old World No.9 with an impressed effort.
“I simply really feel comfy on these courts, I feel the floor is somewhat bit faster,” Popyrin mentioned. “I don’t know if it is sensible, nevertheless it lets me have somewhat bit extra time on the court docket, as a result of I hit my first aggressive shot and I can dictate from there.”
Popyrin hit 30 winners in opposition to 24 unforced errors; Rune hit 24 winners and 39 unforced.
Ranked 26 and seeded 18 in Toronto, Popyrin has now gained consecutive matches in opposition to former High-5 gamers.
The Aussie went 0 for 11 in break alternatives within the opening set, however transformed three break factors throughout the ultimate two units to degree his lifetime head-to-head with Rune at one apiece.
“After the primary set I used to be pissed,” Popyrin mentioned. “However once I got here again out to return once more, it felt like I used to be in command of the match. I informed myself to be aggressive on the subsequent break level that I obtained, and from then on I felt fairly comfy.”
Popyrin, who toppled former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev within the third spherical, is into his first arduous court docket quarterfinal since he claimed the title in Montreal final 12 months, defeating Andrey Rublev within the remaining.
He’ll face both top-seeded Alexander Zverev or Francisco Cerundolo within the final eight.
Popyrin saved a pair of break factors whereas serving at 3-1 within the third, after breaking within the earlier recreation. He didn’t look again from there, profitable 12 of the ultimate 15 factors and breaking Rune once more for good measure within the remaining recreation.
