Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Alexei Popyrin has celebrated turning 27 by booking his place in the Montreal Masters’ round of 32 for the third year running.
The shock 2024 champion progressed in just 76 minutes, beating the 32nd-seeded Belgian Raphael Collignon 6-4 6-3 on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
Former world No.19 but currently ranked 139, Popyrin beat fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis to earn his place in the main draw and saw off Roman Andres Burruchaga in round one to notch his first ATP-level win since May.
And with another crack looming at the US Open in New York – where he beat Novak Djokovic in 2024 en route to his best finish at Flushing Meadows – Popyrin can largely credit another win in Canada to his booming serve.
“Popeye” fired down 10 aces, won 84 per cent (27/32) of first-serve points and didn’t face a break point, while also converting on three-of-nine break-point opportunities of his own.
The Sydneysider will next face another Argentine in Thiago Tirante, who upset world No.9 and seventh-seeded American Taylor Fritz 7-5 6-3.
At the women’s WTA event in Toronto meantime, Australian world No.61 Daria Kasatkina suffered a 6-3 5-7 6-4 loss to second seed Elena Rybakina.
The two-time grand slam champion from Kazakhstan survived after a two-hour 22-minute scare to progress and tee up a clash with 28th seed, Anna Li of the US.
Later on Wednesday, 20-year-old Aussie qualifier Maya Joint will take on 14th-seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea, hoping to join compatriot Talia Gibson in the third round.
