Sensational Popyrin keeps title defence alive against former Slam winner; De Minaur wins via walkover
- Christian Montegan
- Aug 1, 2025
- 2 min read
A sensational comeback from Alexei Popyrin has kept his hopes of defending 1000 ranking points alive after slaying former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in an early morning classic in Toronto.
The third round encounter was destined for drama when the previous match between Alexander Zverev and Matteo Arnaldi on Centre Court forced Popyrin and Medvedev to commence after 10pm local time.
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Popyrin, the defending Canadian champion from 12 months ago in Montreal, allowed nerves to throw away a bright start in the first set, which included a break at 4-2.
Despite trailing by a set, the 18th-seeded Aussie served, at times, as if his life depended on it, whilst also approaching the net with great effectiveness to eventually seal an impressive 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win, with the match finishing minutes before 1am.
"I felt like I should have won that first set," said Popyrin on court. "I was in the driver's seat, I felt like I was really comfortable out there, and then something happened — the same thing that happened earlier this season when I played him [in Rome]. I kind of let go and I started feeling my shots a little bit. When that happens, when you play a fast pace against him, he starts feeling the ball a little bit more.
"I had to revert back to the main tactics that we had, which was more focused on serving, coming into the net and not giving him the same rhythm. I think that worked today."
It sets up an enticing meeting with fifth seed Holger Rune for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur has been handed a lifeline in a bid to save energy from a taxing Washington campaign following the withdrawal of countryman Christopher O'Connell due to an abdominal injury.
O'Connell, 31, showed no signs of any pain during his upset win over former world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.
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