Alexei Popyrin played a stellar match against
Alexander Bublik coming back to win the match after losing the opening set and capturing his first ATP title.
The
Singapore Tennis Open drew its conclusion today with a final between two players who never won an ATP title. Alexander Bublik stepped out onto the court as a 3-time finalist having lost all of them while Alexei Popyrin never played in one. The start of the match showed as much as Bublik played a more balanced style of tennis winning his service games without issues. Popyrin played a bit more erratic and midway through the set, he allowed Bublik a break point which the Kazakhstani player converted to a break. A strong service game from Bublik ended the 30-minute set 6-4.
The 2nd set was an even quicker one but the scoreline was completely different. Popyrin played an exceptional set not dropping a single point on his serve while also winning the majority of Bublik's serve. The Kazakhstani player looked unrecognisable as he surrendered the 2nd set 0-6 in just 23 minutes. Bublik is prone to the occasional meltdown and many wondered was another was on the schedule but at the start of the final set, he looked much better and both players got off to a flying start. Popyrin continued to serve and play well while Bublik encountered some struggle at 2-3.
Two mistakes by Bublik made it 30-30 and a strong return gave Popyrin a break point which he wasted with a forehand miss. Popyrin wasted two more break points but he got bailed out by Bublik who committed two double faults in a row at 40-40 to give him the game. The Australian continued playing well hitting winners at a strong rate visibly annoying Bublik. In the end, it all ended with another break as Popyrin clinched the final set 6-2.
It is the first final and first ATP title for Popyrin who caps off a stellar week of tennis with a deserved victory. The final score is 4-6 6-0 6-2 for Popyrin who won in 85 minutes of play.