Alexei Popyrin has equalled a record set by Novak Djokovic with his win at the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Nick Kyrgios reacted to Popyrin’s Canadian Open victory, with the latter beating Andrey Rublev in the final.
Popyrin ended his dream run in Montreal in superb fashion, beating the fifth-seeded Rublev in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Rublev said Popyrin played ‘unbelievable’, with the 25-year-old Australian claiming the biggest title of his career at the Canadian Open.
Popyrin can be extremely proud of his fantastic efforts in Canada, having given his all against the battling Rublev.
Alexei Popyrin matches Novak Djokovic record at the Canadian Open
He has ended 21 years of ATP Masters 1000 hurt with the win, becoming the first Australian man to win such an event since Lleyton Hewitt at Indian Wells in 2003.
But that wasn’t his only fantastic achievement, with Popyrin becoming the first player to win the Canadian Open in his very first main draw appearance at the event since Djokovic in 2007, as per OptaAce.
Alexei Popyrin wins deserved Canadian Open title
The 25-year-old was able to quickly put his Olympics disappointment behind him, having fallen at the third round in Paris.
Ranked 62 in the world before the event in Canada, Popyrin was simply unstoppable when he got going, clinching three top 10 wins on his way to the trophy.
The Australian overcame the likes of Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz and Sebastian Korda before his final win over Rublev.
Popyrin has now risen a huge 39 spots in the rankings to 23rd with his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy, and third tour-level title.
Matching any record set by Djokovic is no mean feat, with Popyrin hitting 18 forehand winners against Rublev to help secure a 90-minute victory.
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