Zverev comeback ends Popyrin's Toronto title defence
Top seed Alexander Zverev ended Alexei Popyrin's title defence at the National Bank Open in Toronto, with a patient comeback at the ATP Masters 1000.
The German cut a frustrated figure after missing out on two set points in the opening tie-break but quickly recovered for a 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 win. Zverev raced out to 3-0 leads in the second and third sets and maintained a high level throughout the final set in a comfortable finish.
"I had to tell myself, even though I lost the first set, I thought we were both playing actually quite well," Zverev said. "I did one or two mistakes in the end [of the tie-break], and I was very unlucky with the net cord on set point.
"But all in all, I thought it was a high level, and if I continue playing that way, I'm going to get my chances — and that's what I did."
Now into his 75th tour-level semi-final, Zverev joins Novak Djokovic (196) among the only two active men to reach that mark. By advancing to his 21st semi-final at the Masters 1000s, his first since last year's Paris Masters, Zverev moved ahead of Roddick for seventh-most in series history (since 1990).
In a battle of former Canada champions, 2017 Montreal champ Zverev ended the repeat bid of his opponent. Popyrin was a perfect 9-0 at the ATP Masters 1000 after his surprise title run last year in Montreal.
The Aussie snatched the opening set with a pickup volley that clipped the net and dribbled over, but his momentum was immediately halted by a professional effort from the world number-three. While a late second-set wobble handed Popyrin his lone break of the match, Zverev reasserted his authority with a crucial five-game run from 4-4 in the middle set.
"I had to find a return position in the beginning because he's a very big server, and when he gets into a rhythm, it's very difficult against him," Zverev said. "I did that in the second and third set. Honestly, I can't complain about much. I played one loose game on my serve in the second set, but apart from that, it was pretty good."
Zverev won 82 per cent of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and claimed 16 of his last 17 points on serve. He closed out the match in style with a drop-volley winner and now awaits Karen Khachanov or Alex Michelsen in the semis.
