Alexei Pofyrin Stunt No.5 Seed Holger Rune in three sets to note a ninth straight Canadian open victory and to keep his deficiency alive.
Toronto, Canada, 3 August 2025 | Vivienne Christie
Alexei Pofyrin has kept his Canadian ATP Masters 1000 title defense on the right track in a spectacular way and supported his upset by Daniil Medvedev with another Come-From-Behind-victory-this time at no. 5 Seed Holger Rune-to reach the quarterfinals.
Pofyrin gathered for a 4-6 6-2 6-1 win over the higher-ranked Dane, which marked his ninth consecutive match during the prestigious event.
In 2024, Pofyrin rushed to a breakthrough master’s title at the Canadian Open, in which he defeated five seeds and three top 10 players, including Andrey Rublev in the final.
The tournament, which alternates every year between Montreal and Toronto, is clearly a happy hunting ground for the Australian, which enters the trekking this year ranked world no. 26.
Read: why Alexei Pofyrin is not looking for ‘weighing tennis’
“I still have 1000 points here to defend here,” Popyrin said Tennis -tv Earlier this week when it was asked to return as a defending champion in another city.
“I feel pretty good here, so let’s hope I can keep it up.”
He did exactly that against Rune, despite missing 11 breaking point options in a tense opening set of 54 minutes.
In an impressive turnaround, Pofyrin broke in both the fourth and last games of the second set and then repeated a similar pattern in the decision maker.
For two hours, the Australian ended with 12 winners – including six aces – against 13 not – forced mistakes, while Rune dismissed 11 winners but turned out to be more whimsical.
More: Paxyrin to defend the Canadian Crown in Toronto
It marks Popyrin’s third ATP quarterfinals of 2025, after strong impressions on Clay in Monte Carlo and Geneva.
He is then confronted with top seeds Alexander Zverev, who progressed when no. 14 Francisco Cerundolo retired in their fourth round competition.
“I feel comfortable on these courts, where I hit my first aggressive shot and then dictate,” said Popyrin. “My forehand was the highlight today.”
Countryman Alex de Minaur also remains contrary to Canada and continues to the fourth round after Chris O’Connell withdrew from their all-Australian collision with a belly injury.
The Minaur, the No. 9 Seed, will now meet the seventh placed Frances Tiafoe while he focuses on back-to-back ATP titles, after his triumph in Washington last week.
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