Alexei Popyrin’s Canadian Open defence ends in quarterfinal loss to Alexander Zverev

Alexei Popyrin’s defence of the Canadian Open title has ended within the quarterfinals, with the Australian defeated by German prime seed Alexander Zverev in three units. 

Popyrin, who grew to become the primary Australian to win an ATP Masters 1000 event eventually yr’s occasion, took the opening set earlier than Zverev rallied. 

The German, who misplaced to top-ranked Jannik Sinner within the remaining at this yr’s Australian Open and made the French Open quarterfinal, not solely overcame Popyrin but in addition a heckling fan late within the contest. 

After Zverev hit the profitable level, he turned to the heckler and waved, saying “bye-bye”, earlier than assembly Popyrin on the web to shake his hand. 

Popyrin took the primary set when his light backhand volley after an extended rally grazed the highest of the online and dropped for the profitable level — a lot to the delight of his followers.

Zverev responded by instantly firing a ball utterly out of the stadium in frustration, however shortly regrouped to go up 2-0 within the second set.

Popyrin grabbed a break of his personal earlier than holding serve at 4-4. Zverev, who received the Canadian title in Montreal eight years in the past when he defeated childhood idol Roger Federer, took a 5-4 lead after which once more broke his opponent to even the match.

Ousted on the quarterfinal stage of final yr’s event, Zverev acquired one other break to go up 2-0 within the third set earlier than serving out the match.

Zverev has two event wins on clay this yr, and is the highest-ranked participant competing within the Toronto area.

The German, the 2017 event champion, will face both eleventh seed Karen Khachanov of Russia or twenty sixth seed Alex Michelsen of america.

Australia’s number-one-ranked male participant, Alex de Minaur, will face American Ben Shelton tomorrow morning, AEST, in his quarterfinal.

AP/ABC