Australian Alexei Popyrin wins Montreal Masters 1000, defeats Andrey Rublev in straight sets

He’s done it! Alexei Popyrin has won the Montreal Masters 1000 title over Andrey Rublev (6-2, 6-4).

Popyrin took the title on his third match point and has been dubbed the “Master of Montreal” by the commentators.

Popyrin falls to the ground in delight after clinching match point.Credit: Getty Images

He’s the first Aussie to win this particular title since Pat Rafter did so at his peak in 1998.

Let’s not overlook the magnitude of what Popyrin has achieved in Montreal this week after representing Australia at the Paris Olympics.

Not only did he beat a highly fancied opponent in the final – Andrey Rublev went into the match as the world No.6 – this is his fifth consecutive win against a player in the world’s top 20.

His path to the final included wins over Seb Korda, Ben Shelton, Grigor Dimitrov and Hubert Hurkacz.

Well, folks, that’s all we’ve got for you here in this live coverage of the Montreal Masters 1000 final.

It was, somewhat surprisingly, short and sweet, with Alexei Popyrin getting the job done in quickfire fashion over Andrey Rublev, 6-2, 6-4.

Popyrin with the spoils of his victory.Credit: AP

Make no mistake, that is a massive result for Australian tennis, not just for Popyrin.

He was world No.30 coming into the match, and has now beaten five top-20 opponents in succession, which will push him to the brink of the top 20 himself.

Alexei Popyrin with the ball kids after the tournament is done and dusted.Credit: AP

As our tennis expert Marc McGowan explained earlier, these Masters 1000 events are – outside the four iconic grand slams – the biggest tennis tournaments on the ATP calendar, and Popyrin’s win puts him in rarefied air among Australian greats of his sport.

We’ve brought you everything Popyrin had to say after today (Monday night in Montreal)’s win, but Marc will have more to say about this seismic result later today. Please keep an eye out for his story, coming to our home page a little later on.

Cheers.

Popyrin is now on the brink of the world’s top 20.Credit: AP

Here’s what Popyrin had to say, in full, in his winner’s speech after claiming the Montreal Masters 1000 title:

“Wow! Firstly, I want to congratulate Andrey for an unbelievable tournament. He played some great tennis. I don’t know why he’s laughing, but, bad luck [today], and good luck in Cincinnati. You play unbelievable tennis, and I hope you can bring it on.

“I want to thank my team - ‘X’ [Xavier Malisse], my coach, Nev [Neville Godwin], my other coach at home. We’ve put in so much work on the tennis court these last few years, and it’s finally paid off this week, and hopefully it can continue.

It was an imperious performance from Alexei Popyrin.Credit: Getty Images

“I want to thank my fitness coach, my physio – the work we do behind the scenes is unbelievable, and I wouldn’t be here without you guys. And also, I want to thank my nutritionist at home.

“”As you can tell, it takes a whole group of people to kind of push you and help you along the way, and I definitely wouldn’t be here without them.

“I’d also like to thank my girlfriend and family. They’ve sacrificed so much for me.

“My family left Australia early on in my life to pursue my tennis career, with my brother [Anthony] and my younger sister [Sonia]. They’ve just sacrificed so much, and I wouldn’t be here without them.

“This is one of the few weeks when my girlfriend [Amy] isn’t travelling with me, and I win the tournament (laughing). I hope she comes to New York now (for the US Open).

“I’d like to also thank the tournament, the sponsors, the volunteers, the ball boys, this tournament wouldn’t happen without you guys. It’s an unbelievable tournament. It’s a pleasure to come back here every year and compete in front of such an amazing crowd like this also, it’s unbelievable, one of the best tournaments of the year. So thank you so much.

“And lastly, I want to thank you guys (the crowd), like Andrey said. You guys came out on a Monday, and put on a loud show for us, so thank you guys so much.”

That is a huge win for Alexei Popyrin’s career – easily the biggest so far, and it puts him alongside three luminaries of Australian tennis.

Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Pat Rafter are the three other Australians who’ve won this Montreal title. While Lleyton Hewitt (Indian Wells in 2002, 2003), Mark Philippoussis (Indian Wells in 1999) and Rafter (Canada and Cincinnati, both in 1998) are the only Australians to win a prestigious Masters1000 title win.

But it’s also a boon for Popyrin’s his bank balance.

As winner of the Montreal Masters 1000, he pockets a cool $US1,049,460. When we put those numbers through our super-computer, the currency conversion means he collects a total just shy of $1.6 million Australian.

Now that’s good bank!

Alexei Popyrin is all smiles after winning the Montreal Masters.Credit: AP

Despite his sometime fiery persona, Rublev wa s gracious in defeat, acknowledging Popyrin’s dominance and saying he deserved the win.

When he got his turn to speak in the presentation ceremony, Popyrin was almost rendered speechless, and there was no chance of him hiding his broad grin.

He thanked his family and support crew, making particular mention of his nutritionist.

Alexei Popyrin was humble and quietly spoken in his brief interview immediately after claiming the title. But his pride was evident.

“It means so much, it means the world,” he said.

“All the hard work that I’ve put in over the last few years, [and] all the sacrifices I’ve made - not just me, but my family, my girlfriend, my team, everybody around me. They’ve just sacrificed their whole lives for me, and for me to win this for them is just amazing.”

Popyrin has had the biggest win of his career in Montreal.Credit: AP

He’s done it! Alexei Popyrin has won the Montreal Masters 1000 title over Andrey Rublev (6-2, 6-4).

Popyrin took the title on his third match point and has been dubbed the “Master of Montreal” by the commentators.

Popyrin falls to the ground in delight after clinching match point.Credit: Getty Images

He’s the first Aussie to win this particular title since Pat Rafter did so at his peak in 1998.

Let’s not overlook the magnitude of what Popyrin has achieved in Montreal this week after representing Australia at the Paris Olympics.

Not only did he beat a highly fancied opponent in the final – Andrey Rublev went into the match as the world No.6 – this is his fifth consecutive win against a player in the world’s top 20.

His path to the final included wins over Seb Korda, Ben Shelton, Grigor Dimitrov and Hubert Hurkacz.

Popyrin got the advantage and pushed hard on that championship point, but just pushed it too long.

He won the next point and is again serving for the title.

It’s 30-all. That was a gruelling point. Both players slugged it out in a tense rally from the back of the court. Eventually, it was Popyrin’s whose nerves broke, and he sent a forehand wide.

It’s 30-15 Popyrin’s way in this game. The Australian has just hit a precision forehand down the line to take the ascendancy.