Popyrin upsets Hurkacz in Montreal to make first-ever Masters semi-final

Australian Alexei Popyrin reached the last four of the Montreal Masters by edging out Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No 4 seed, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 at Stade IGA on Sunday evening.

This time last year, Popyrin made his maiden Masters 1000 quarter-final, losing to Hurkacz in Cincinnati in straight sets.

Now, the Aussie has exacted his revenge, defeating the Pole in a back-and-forth affair to make his first-ever Masters semi-final. It is also Popyrin’s equal-best win in terms of opponent ranking in completed matches.

“I’m really happy right now, but a little bit tired,” said the world No 62 after his two hour, 47 minute victory. “I have another match in about two hours.”

Popyrin, ranked No 62, will play American Sebastian Korda next. Korda also went to three sets, edging No 2 seed Alexander Zverev 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4.

Popyrin rallies crowd to outlast Hurkacz

Coming into the match, Popyrin was in hot form having downed No 7 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the previous round.

However, he had a steep task ahead of him, with Hurkacz having won each of the pair’s three previous encounters.

The Australian got off to the best possible start, however, breaking the big-serving Pole in the first game of the match. His advantage would not last long though, as Popyrin went on to concede two breaks of his own in the first set, falling behind 6-3 after 40 minutes.

The writing looked like it was on the wall when another break came early in the second, and Hurkacz drew within just three games of victory at a set and 3-1 up.

That’s where the crowd came into play, willing Popyrin forward.

“You guys are all amazing. You helped me through this match, against Hubi, who is one of the best players in the world,” said Popyrin afterwards.

He dug in, got the break back, and forced a tie-break. The fact that he was up against the sixth-best tie-break player on Tour this year did not phase Popyrin, with the 24-year-old’s aggressive play winning him the set.

In the third, there were plenty of opportunities for both men to break, with 13 break points in total. Popyrin saved all four of those he faced, while Hurkacz repelled eight, before conceding on the ninth at 5-5.

That was all Popyrin needed, as the Aussie served out the match to love, booking his spot in the semi-finals later today.

Earlier in the tournament, the Australian defeated Tomas Machac (6-3, 6-4), American Ben Shelton, the No 11 seed (6-4, 7-6 (4)) and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 7 seed (4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3).

Hurkacz, ranked No 6, edged out Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis (4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6)) and French qualifier Arthur Rinderknech (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Rogers Cup.

Montreal Masters 1000, other last 8 results (Stade IGA, hard, USD 6.795.555, most recent results first):

• Sebastian Korda beat Alexander Zverev (2): 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4
• Matteo Arnaldi beat Kei Nishikori: 6-4, 7-5
• Andrey Rublev (5) beat Jannik Sinner (1): 6-3, 1-6, 6-2