In a surprising turn of events at the Montreal Masters 1000, world No. 8 Andrey Rublev and 62nd-ranked Alexei Popyrin have secured their spots in the final, scheduled for Monday, August 12. Rublev, who had previously stunned world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals, continued his impressive run by defeating Matteo Arnaldi in the semifinals with a score of 6-4, 6-2.Popyrin’s journey to the final was particularly remarkable. The 25-year-old Australian played nearly five hours of tennis in a single day, first overcoming world No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz in a grueling three-set match (3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5), and then defeating recent Washington champion Sebastian Korda in straight sets (7-6(0), 6-3). This performance has catapulted Popyrin into his first Masters 1000 final, making him the lowest-ranked player this century to reach this stage in the tournament.The final promises to be an intriguing matchup. Rublev, seeking his third title of the year and sixth Masters 1000 final appearance, will be the favorite. However, Popyrin has already demonstrated his ability to compete at this level, having defeated Rublev earlier this year in Monte Carlo. ‘I know he’s an incredible player and one of the best in the world. So, I know it won’t be easy,’ Popyrin said of his upcoming opponent.The tournament has faced scheduling challenges due to rain delays and the need to accommodate players returning from the Paris Olympics. Despite these obstacles, both finalists have shown remarkable resilience and form, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the event.
Key points
- Andrey Rublev and Alexei Popyrin have reached the Montreal Masters 1000 final.
- Popyrin, ranked 62nd, defeated both Hubert Hurkacz and Sebastian Korda in a single day to reach his first Masters 1000 final.
- The final is scheduled for Monday, August 12, due to rain delays and Olympic scheduling.
