Alexander Zverev Overcomes Popyrin, Books Semifinal Spot in Toronto 

Alexander Zverev advanced to the National Bank Open semifinals, defeating defending champion Alexei Popyrin. The top-seeded German won 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 in a gripping quarterfinal on Monday night. This marks his fourth win against Popyrin and strengthens his run for a 25th career title. 

Popyrin claimed the first set after a long rally ended with a lucky net graze. The crowd, energized by Australian fans, erupted in cheers. Zverev responded emotionally, sending a ball out of Sobeys Stadium in frustration. However, he quickly regained control and broke early in the second set. 

Though Popyrin broke back and tied the set at 4-4, Zverev held firm. He took the lead at 5-4 and then broke again to level the match. From there, momentum stayed on Zverev’s side. He broke serve early in the third set and maintained his rhythm until the finish. 

Zverev now awaits either Karen Khachanov or Alex Michelsen in the semifinals. The two faced off in a late Tuesday quarterfinal match. On the other side of the draw, Taylor Fritz faces Andrey Rublev, while Ben Shelton takes on Alex de Minaur. Both matches are scheduled for Tuesday. 

Zverev’s strong form continues. He already reached the Australian Open final and the French Open quarterfinals this year. He also defeated Roger Federer in Montreal eight years ago for his first Canadian Open title. That memory still fuels his confidence in Canada. 

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Popyrin saw his nine-match winning streak in Canada come to an end. Last year, he stunned Andrey Rublev to win in Montreal and secure his third ATP title. Despite this loss, Popyrin remains a growing force in the tennis world. 

Zverev, currently world No. 3, stands out in a field missing big names. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper all withdrew from the tournament. Still, Zverev’s determination makes him the favorite in Toronto. 

This event, with a $9.19 million prize pool, now enters its final stretch. Both semifinals are set for Wednesday, with the final match taking place Thursday. Zverev hopes to lift his eighth ATP Masters 1000 title and continue his impressive 2025 season.