Popyrin claims first Aussie Masters in two decades

Alexei Popyrin hammered Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-4 in 90 minutes on Monday to win the first Masters 1000 title in 21 years for Australia.

The No. 62 who is set for a rise with the US open start a fortnight away, fired 18 forehand winners and broke his fifth-seeded opponent four times as he ended the best week of his tenns life.

The 25-year-old had only one regret:  

“This is one of the few weeks where my girlfriend isn’t traveling with me… and I win the tournament. I hope she comes to New York now.”

The winner joined three other compatriots in claiming a Masters trophy; he is also the second to reach a Canadian masters Final after Patrick Rafter in 2001.

“The others are Rafter (1998 Toronto, 1998 Cincinnati), Mark Philippoussis (1999 Indian Wells) and  Hewitt (2002-2003 Indian Wells),

“This means so much, it means the world,” the winner said. “All the hard work we’ve put in over the last couple of years has paid off.

“Everyone around me has sacrificed so much of their lives for me. For me to win this for them is amazing.”

Popyrin won seven of the first eight points and broke Rublev early in both sets as he defeated his fifth Top 20 opponent here..

Rublev, who has confessed to struggling with mental health, said that despite the occasional outburst in the final, he has been making progress the past month internally.

Popyrin needed  three match points to earn the trophy and head to the Cincinnati event this week with a massive load of confidence.