DPA
New York
Alexei Popyrin became the first Australian ATP Masters 1000 champion in 21 years, after winning the Montreal final on Monday.
Popyrin stunned world number six Andrey Rublev as he charged to a 6-2, 6-4 win, becoming the first Australian Masters 1000 winner since Lleyton Hewitt won Indian Wells in 2003.
“It means the world, for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years, all the sacrifices I have made,” said Popyrin.
“Not just me, but my family, my girlfriend, my team, everybody around me. They have sacrificed their whole lives for me and for me to win this for them is just amazing.”
In Toronto, Jessica Pegula held off Amanda Anisimova in an all-American final, winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
“Toronto, it’s nice, it’s so close to Buffalo, I had a lot of friends, family, and my grandparents, my husband was able to come today,” said Pegula, who hails from Buffalo in New York State.
“That’s cool, I don’t really get that at a lot of tournaments.
“Then to be able to win the tournament as well, and to be able to share that moment with them is really special. I don’t know what it is about Canada, but I just seem to do well, so I’ll just ... , take it,” Pegula added.
It was Pegula’s third career WTA 1000 title. Along with winning the National Bank Open last year in Montreal, she also won WTA 1000 Guadalajara in 2022.
“I know everyone’s talking about my record and all this stuff, but it’s nice to be able to get through the week and to back it up,” Pegula said.
