Alexei Popyrin set for US Open seeding after winning Masters 1000 event in Montreal

The good results had been building for Alexei Popyrin, who has secured one of the biggest tennis wins of 2024 and a massive winner’s cheque.

Alexei Popyrin has recorded the biggest win of his career (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Alexei Popyrin has burst into the world’s top 30 and looks set for a seeding at the US Open after recording the biggest triumph of his career and earning a seven-figure payday by taking out the Montreal Masters in Canada.

The 25-year-old, who made the final 16 in singles at the Paris Olympics and was playing in his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final, recorded a barnstorming straight-sets victory against world No.6 Andrey Rublev to take the $1.6m winner’s cheque and jump to 23 in the world rankings, a career high.

It ended a 21-year drought for Australian men in Masters 1000 events. The last man to win one was Lleyton Hewitt at Indian Wells in 2003.

Popyrin burst out of the blocks and took the opening set 6-2. He held a 3-1 lead in the second before the Russian responded to level things at 3-3.

Alexei Popyrin won a prestigious Masters 1000 title in Montreal. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The Australian then broke Rublev’s serve to regain the ascendancy, swiftly moving to 5-3 and holding his nerve to serve out the match in a tense final game, needing three match points before recording an emotional 6-2 6-4 win in just under 90 minutes.

Popyrin has become a giant-killer, with the win over Rublev a fifth straight against an opponent in the top 20 and a third top-10 scalp for the Montreal event.

Alexei Popyrin becomes the most unexpected Masters 1000 champ in forever, winning 6-2, 6-4 over Andrey Rublev in the ATP 1000 Montréal final.

The big hitting Aussie carpe’d the heck out of the diem this week.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 13, 2024

Wow.

25yo Alexei Popyrin defeats Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-4 to win the Canada Masters 1000 in Montreal.

Incredible run for a big talent.

Surely top 5 most surprising M1000 champs in the last 20 years (Sock, Coric, Carreño, Norrie?) pic.twitter.com/GF1gr6iER7

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 13, 2024

Having battled injuries early in 2024, the Sydneysider said his confidence was growing with every match, leading to his triumph ahead of the year’s final grand slam.

“It means the world, for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years, all the sacrifices I have made,” Popyrin said.

“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.

“My family kind of left Australia early on in my life to pursue my tennis career with my brother and my younger sister.

“They’ve just sacrificed so much. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

“I’m a Masters 1000 title winner and I can’t believe it.

“Hopefully, it just keeps going because I’m putting in the work. This is a testament to all the work that I’ve put in.”

There’s little time to celebrate for Popyrin who will be back on court on Thursday for a first-round clash Gael Monfils at the Cincinnati Masters.

Alexei Popyrin poses with the ball persons after defeating Andrey Rublev. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Pending ongoing results, Australia could have multiple male seedings at a grand slam for the first time in 24 years when the US Open begins on August 26.

Popyrin and Alex de Minaur are well placed and Jordan Thompson, ranked 32, could also be seeded for the final grand slam of the year.

Originally published as Alexei Popyrin set for US Open seeding after winning Masters 1000 event in Montreal