In a gripping quarterfinal clash at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, top-seeded Alexander Zverev showcased his resilience and elite talent, rallying past defending champion Alexei Popyrin 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3 on Monday night at Sobeys Stadium. The victory not only secured Zverev’s place in the semifinals of the ATP 1000 event but also marked a significant milestone, as the 28-year-old German surpassed Andy Roddick’s career match wins, reaching his 75th ATP Tour semifinal and solidifying his status as one of the game’s enduring stars. The match, a high-octane battle under a hazy Toronto sky, captivated fans and set the stage for an electrifying conclusion to the tournament.
Popyrin, the No. 18 seed and world No. 26, entered the match riding a wave of confidence after his 2024 Montreal title run, where he defeated Andrey Rublev to claim his third career trophy. The 25-year-old Australian, cheered on by fans wielding an inflatable yellow kangaroo, pushed Zverev to the limit in a thrilling first set. After a marathon rally, Popyrin sealed the tiebreak with a delicate backhand volley that grazed the net and dropped just over, prompting Zverev to fire a ball out of the stadium in frustration. “It was necessary to get (the emotion) out somehow,” Zverev admitted with a wry smile, reflecting on the missed opportunities in a set he felt he could have won. “It was a set full of opportunities … a lot of unlucky moments also on my side, especially the set point.” A few years ago, he noted, the outburst might have been a smashed racket, but the 2017 Canadian Open champion has since matured, adding, “I don’t break rackets anymore.”
Undeterred, Zverev regrouped with characteristic poise, leveraging his powerful forehand—unusually steady in sets two and three—to take control. He broke Popyrin early in the second set for a 2-0 lead, and though the Australian fought back to level at 4-4, Zverev’s relentless groundstrokes and 82% first-serve point win rate proved decisive. A crucial break at 5-4 leveled the match, and in the third set, Zverev surged to a 3-0 advantage, never allowing Popyrin back into the contest. “I had to tell myself, even though I lost the first set, I thought we were both playing actually quite well,” Zverev said, crediting his ability to maintain a high level. “If I continue playing that way, I’m going to get my chances — and that’s what I did.” Popyrin, gracious in defeat, acknowledged the quality of the match, saying, “It was a high-level match. He’s Number 3 in the world for a reason.” He described the third set as “the battle of the fittest,” a testament to Zverev’s endurance and mental fortitude.
Zverev’s victory extended his perfect 4-0 head-to-head record against Popyrin, including a third-round win at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It also ended Popyrin’s nine-match winning streak in Canada, where he had thrived since his 2024 triumph. “It’s been a great two years in Canada,” Popyrin reflected, expressing hope for continued success in the country. “I just hope it keeps going every year like this for me here in Canada.” Zverev, however, saw untapped potential in his opponent, noting, “He feels very comfortable here in Canada. He needs to analyze what it is and why that is. If he can get that same level and that same quality of tennis to the rest of the tour, he can be a top-10, top-8 player.”
The win marked Zverev’s 500th career victory, making him the fifth active player and the first born in the 1990s or later to reach that milestone. Surpassing Roddick’s win total added extra significance, as the German continues his quest for a 25th career title and an eighth ATP 1000 Masters triumph. His 2017 Canadian Open victory in Montreal, where he defeated Roger Federer, remains a career highlight, and he now eyes a second title in Toronto’s expanded 96-player field. Zverev’s next challenge is a semifinal clash against No. 11 seed Karen Khachanov, who outlasted American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-6 (3). With a 5-2 head-to-head edge over Khachanov, Zverev is well-positioned, but the Russian’s clutch serving and recent form make him a formidable foe.
The Toronto field, depleted by the absence of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, and Novak Djokovic, has thrust Zverev into the spotlight as the highest-ranked player remaining. His 2025 season, which includes two clay-court titles and a French Open quarterfinal, reflects his consistency, though an early Wimbledon exit fueled his determination to compete in Toronto. Tuesday’s quarterfinals feature American stars Taylor Fritz against Andrey Rublev and Ben Shelton versus Alex de Minaur, setting up a thrilling Wednesday semifinal round before Thursday’s final. As Zverev continues his march, his ability to channel frustration into focus—evident in his recovery from the first-set setback—underscores why he remains a titan in men’s tennis, ready to seize another shot at glory.
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