Quite a surprise! Australia’s Popyrin beats five favourites for the final of his life

He barely made it to the Masters tournament in Montréal without qualifying. He entered each of his matches as an underdog and yet he will play in the final here. Australia’s Popyrin is looking for the achievement of a lifetime.

• Australia’s Popyrin gives the ride of his life in Montréal
• He’s beaten five favourites here, including Hurkacz and Korda
• He’ll face Rublyov in the final

When Tomas Machac came up against him in the first round, he didn’t seem to be an insurmountable obstacle. After all, Alexei Popyrin hadn’t produced any great results recently.

The opposite was true. The fresh Olympic champion only briefly got into the game against the 25-year-old Australian in the second set, when he led 2: 0. The rest of the match belonged to Popyrin.

The Sydney native with Russian roots strolled to a 2:0 set win. But that was only the beginning of his Montreal run.

Popyrin liquidates the favourites

This tournament was graced by a great turnout. There were a number of favourites in Montréal. And what they have in common, for the most part, is the fact that they ended their run in Canada on Popyrin.

The player from the seventh ten of the ranking also knocked out the American Shelton after Machac. In sets that ended 6:4, 7:6 the outsider did not face a single break point.

He lost a set for the first time in the eighth round against the tournament’s number seven Dimitrov. Despite that, Popyrin enjoyed the progress after 4:6, 7:6, 6:3 sets.

The Australian managed to beat the other two favourites even in one day. Thanks to great set finishes, he completed the turnaround against Poland’s Hurkacz and three hours later surprised the American Korda. The son of the famous Czech tennis player won his historic victory a week ago in Washington.

The chance of a lifetime now awaits Popyrin for a change. He can add a third to his two ATP titles, which would be the most valuable one.

In the final, he will face Russia’s Rublyov. The Moscow native managed to beat the top seed in Montreal.

The Russian will be the favourite, but that’s not very important. At least in the matches that this almost two-meter tall Australian will play.

Source: ATP, X