Popyrin kicks down the door to break into the big leagues

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Alexei Popyrin is already part of a very exclusive club in the racket sport. Without making much noise, without being in any betting pool, and without any grand gesture: the Australian has let his racket do the talking at an ATP Montreal 2024 that is already unforgettable for him. Alexei put the finishing touch on a fantastic week with an exuberant final, dominated by a blazing forehand that swept aside Andrey Rublev, outclassed both in terms of tennis and mentally in a match where he started as the clear favorite (6-2, 6-4).

But if this week has been full of surprises, we couldn't finish without crowning one more. Perhaps the biggest of all, due to Popyrin's inexperience in this kind of scenario. But the pupil of the legendary Xavier Malisse showed from the first ball that he was ready for these moments, and that his tennis is powerful enough to face off with any top player. He had already shown signs of this in certain matches in 2024, like when he pushed Djokovic to the limit in Australia... but today, with everything at stake, he took it a step further.

A step driven by an overwhelming performance with his serve. In his first two service games, a 67% first serve ratio from Alexei did not bode well for Rublev, who quickly became frustrated and let out a few ghosts. Shouts, threats to break his racket... Andrey's show had started early in a match that turned against him from the very beginning. It seemed like the player fighting for his third Masters 1000, the most experienced in these situations, was Popyrin... and the rookie, without a doubt, was the Russian.

ALEXEI SETS HIMSELF APART FROM THE REST

Poor percentages with the first serve were the downfall of Rublev, who couldn't handle the aggressive returns of his opponent. Every second was a treat that Popyrin devoured with the joy of a child. Time and time again, he repeated the same move, switching to his forehand to deliver a blow that Andrey, slow to react, couldn't contain. That's how the first set went, in which the Oceanian player recorded 18 winners (including 7 aces), an imperial performance that only raised one question: could he maintain it?

Certainly. The second set started with the same script as the first: an early break by Popyrin handed to him on a silver platter by Rublev. Suffocated, mistiming many neutral balls, Rublev couldn't even find his rhythm in the match. And every time there was a slight opening on his return, the Aussie made sure to close it with a devastating first serve.

The only joy in the match for Rublev was short-lived: a break in the middle of the second set that could have been the perfect moment for Popyrin to feel the pressure of winning his first Masters 1000... but instead, it was just a mirage. The following game showcased Rublev's self-destruction: two forehand errors, a double fault, and an exceptional point by Alexei sealed Rublev's total collapse.

The final point was delayed, with a couple of match points bravely saved by the Russian, but Popyrin continued to rely on his tremendous serve + inverted forehand combo and ultimately prevailed in a match he dominated from start to finish. He should be applauded for the composure with which he faced an event like this, the biggest of his career: he truly seemed like a veteran in these circumstances. Some may diminish his victory due to the peculiar circumstances of this tournament, but it's worth noting that he defeated four top-20 players along the way, saved several match points in the third round against Dimitrov, numerous break points in the third set against Hurkacz, and reached the final by overwhelming a two-time Masters 1000 champion.

Not a bad résumé to enter the big leagues, no. Straight into the top 30. Will he be able to maintain it? Meanwhile... welcome, Alexei.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Popyrin echa la puerta abajo para colarse en las grandes ligas