Popyrin became the fourth lowest-ranked champion in Masters 1000 history in Montreal.
©Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images North America via AFPThe hard-court swing ahead of the US Open is in full flight.
Already there has been a series of shocks and scintillating matches to absorb.
Over in Canada, the men and women swap each year between Montreal and Toronto for the 1000 tier tournaments. Here is what you may have missed…
Before his trip to Montreal, Alexei Popyrin's Masters best result was a quarter-final ticket at Cincinnati 2023.
Now, the towering Australian has knitted together his formidable power play and net prowess to secure the biggest title of his career.
The 25-year-old capped a captivating week as he charged past world No.6 Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-4 in Montreal for a maiden Masters trophy.
“Considering the occasion, considering what we were playing for, I think with the level that I played, it probably is the best match that I've played in my life,“ said Popyrin, soaring to a career-high world No.23 this week.
“It means the world, for all the hard work I've put in over the years, all the sacrifices I have made.
“Not just me, but my family, my girlfriend, my team, everybody around me. They have sacrificed their whole lives for me and for me to win this for them is just amazing.“
Ranked back at No.62 prior to play in Canada, Popyrin became the fourth-lowest ranked winner in Masters 1000 history. He also became the first Australian man to win a 1000 title since Lleyton Hewitt at Indian Wells 21 years ago. In fact, it was Hewitt who provided the spark for Popyrin's milestone moment.
“Lleyton was actually with me at the Olympics – he has helped me so much throughout my career. He gave me some good advice after my match against Zverev at the Olympics,” said Popyrin.
“He said, ‘You took one of the best players in the world, one of the more informed players in the world, to play some unbelievable tennis to beat you’. I was a break up in that match, so serving for the first set and kind of choked it.
“He flipped the switch on it and kind of told me a positive overlook on that match and then gave me the confidence coming into this week.”
Hewitt's words of wisdom certainly paid dividends as Popyrin claimed three Top 10 triumphs in Montreal, as well as dismissing world No.14 Ben Shelton and recent Washington champion Sebastian Korda along the way.
Diving a little deeper, Popyrin erased three match points in a third-round rollercoaster with world No.9 Grigor Dimitov and he overcame world No.7 Hubert Hurkacz from a 6-3, 3-1 deficit in the quarter-finals.
What a week for the Sydneysider!
The ultra-consistent Jessica Pegula clearly feels at home in Toronto or Montreal for the WTA 1000 event.
The world No.6, who has Canadian grandparents from both cities, defended her title on Monday evening with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 passage past the resurgent Amanda Anisimova.
Fellow American Anisimova ousted four straight Top 20 opponents, including world No.3 Aryna Sabalenka, to reach her first WTA 1000 final. However, Pegula found the answers in Toronto for a sixth singles trophy as the first woman to go back-to-back in Canada since Martina Hingis in 2000.
“Toronto, it's nice, it's so close to Buffalo, I had a lot of friends, family, and my grandparents, my husband was able to come today,“ Buffalo, New York native Pegula said. “That's cool, I don't really get that at a lot of tournaments.
“Then to be able to win the tournament as well, and to be able to share that moment with them is really special. I don't know what it is about Canada, but I just seem to do well, so yeah, I'll take it!“
The 30-year-old has now compiled a 17-2 record at the Canadian WTA 1000 event, having scooped her third title at this tier.
“I know everyone's talking about my record and all this stuff, but it's nice to be able to get through the week and to back it up,“ added the American. "Just super excited, I mean, an honour, really.“
Roland-Garros 2019 semi-finalist Anismova was back in a singles final for the first time in two years and has since catapulted 83 spots up to world No.49.
Beginning its 125th year in 2024, the Cincinnati Open welcomes world No.1 Jannik Sinner and Roland-Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz spearheading the men's field.
Sinner, troubled by a right hip issue in Montreal, opens facing qualifier Alex Michelsen or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
Alcaraz, back on hard courts after Olympics endeavours in Paris, will duel with Popyrin or Gaël Monfils. You won't want to miss that.
There's already been a head-turning result in Ohio, with pumped-up Washington finalist Flavio Cobolli fending off three match points to down No.10 seed Tommy Paul.
On the WTA side, seven of the Top 10 feature, with main draw action bursting into life on Tuesday.
Top seed Iga Swiatek returns to the Tour alongside Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen. They'll go for glory alongside reigning champion Coco Gauff and the likes of Sabalenka and Pegula.
World No.1 Swiatek opens against either Ajla Tomljanovic or Varvara Gracheva. Gauff's first opponent could be Hariet Dart or Yulia Putintseva.
Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen will hope to transfer that form from Paris over the net from Washington runner-up Marie Bouzkova or Magdalena Frech.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
