Alexander Zverev overcame a distracting fan incident to secure his place in the semi-finals of the ATP Toronto Masters, defeating defending champion Alexei Popyrin 6-7 (8/10), 6-4, 6-3. The match, which lasted just over two and a half hours, saw Zverev reach his 21st Masters 1000 semi-final.
The pivotal moment arrived during the final game, with Zverev serving at 5-3. An unruly fan caused a disruption, leading to their removal by security. This interruption broke Zverev's streak of 14 consecutive points on serve, and he double-faulted upon resumption. However, he quickly regained composure, sealing the victory with a sharp volley winner at the net on his first match point.
Zverev, currently ranked world No. 3, previously won the tournament in 2017, but hadn't progressed past the quarter-finals in Canada since then. He expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "After losing the first set, I had to tell myself we were both playing well. I felt that if I kept playing well, I would get my chances – and I did. I can't complain about the second and third sets."
The first set was a closely contested affair, ultimately decided by a tiebreaker. Popyrin capitalized on his second set point opportunity with a net cord winner. However, Zverev turned the tide in the second set, taking a 4-1 lead before Popyrin leveled. Zverev then broke Popyrin to clinch the set 6-4. The final set saw Zverev surge ahead with a 3-0 lead, securing his spot in the semi-finals of the pre-US Open event.
Looking ahead, Zverev is set to face Karen Khachanov in the semi-final clash. Popyrin's loss extends his winless streak against Zverev, with Zverev now leading their head-to-head record 4-0.
Zverev's Road to the Semi-Finals
- Defeated Alexei Popyrin 6-7 (8/10), 6-4, 6-3
- Reached his 21st Masters 1000 semi-final
- Will face Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals
Key Stats:
- Zverev's 40th win of the year
- Zverev won the tournament in 2017
- Popyrin remains winless against Zverev (0-4)