ATP Canadian Open Semifinals Round-Up: Rublev and Popyrin Secure victories, ready for title clash
ATP
Alexei
Popyrin and Andrey Rublev emerge victorious from the semifinals and will face
off in the final of the Canadian Open. Both played their quarterfinal and
semifinal matches on Sunday, setting up an unexpected final showdown.
The evening
session began with a comfortable victory for Rublev (No. 86) over Matteo
Arnaldi (No. 46) by 6-4, 6-2, advancing to his second Masters 1000 final of the
season after winning the title at the Madrid Open. His unexpected opponent will
be Popyrin (No. 62), who surprised Sebastian Korda (No. 18).
Rublev cruises past Arnaldi
The Russian
didn’t have to work too hard to defeat Arnaldi in straight sets. Rublev had
earlier defeated Jannik Sinner in three sets in the morning and had only a few
hours of rest before returning to the Center Court in Montreal.
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The first
set saw both players holding serve well, with a single break point in the third
game being enough for Rublev to take the lead. He later closed out the set 6-4
after 37 minutes without facing any dangerous moments.
Despite an
evenly matched start to the second set, Rublev quickly raised his level and
secured two consecutive breaks, winning a total of five straight games to close
the match 6-4, 6-2 without any difficulties, finishing in just one hour and 18
minutes—something crucial after two busy days for the players due to rain
delays.
Popyrin’s dream week continues
Popyrin’s
performance at the Canadian Open has been a complete surprise, reaching the
final of a Masters 1000 for the first time in his career. The Australian has
been nearly untouchable with his serve throughout the week, defeating opponents
like Ben Shelton, Grigor Dimitrov, and Hubert Hurkacz.
Andrey Rublev won the Madrid Open in May
This time,
his victim was Sebastian Korda, who seemed to be worn out from the week and his
earlier match against Alexander Zverev. In the first set, Korda took the lead
with a break in the third game, but the advantage didn’t last long as Popyrin
broke back to level at 3-3. A second break for Korda gave him the chance to
serve out the set, but Popyrin broke back again and took the set to a tiebreak,
where he dominated Korda 7-6(7-0).
After
losing the set in such a surprising fashion, Korda had a shaky start to the
second set, allowing Popyrin to break early and take a 2-0 lead. Korda fought
hard but struggled against Popyrin’s strong serve, with the Australian winning
83% of his service points throughout the match.
The victory
went to Popyrin 7-6(0), 6-3, reaching the third final of his career and his
first at a Masters 1000. The Australian also secured his best ranking so far,
rising to World No. 30 after the tournament, which will give him a seeded
position at the US Open. If he wins the title, he could climb as high as No.
23.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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