‘Weight off my shoulder’: Aussie star throws off shackles in déjà vu giant-killing run

Australia’s Alexei Popyrin has registered a second straight win against a former top five player in the world, downing fifth seed Hulger Rune in three sets as his love affair with the Canadian Open continued in Toronto.

Popyrin, who won his first ATP Masters 1000 level title at this very tournament 12 months ago, come from behind to prevail 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to advance to his first hard court quarter-final at any level since his breakthrough in Montreal a year ago.

The 25-year-old also extended his winning streak at the event to nine straight matches, having defeated former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev in the third round, while top seed Alexander Zverev awaits in the final eight, after Francisco Cerundolo retired with an abdominal injury.

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“It means a lot,” Popyrin said of his victory.

“I started this week not high on confidence, but my game was always there, and I just needed the mental side to get the grasp. This week, I kind of just let go of all the pressure that I had, and it’s working out for me, which is good.”

He added: “I just feel comfortable on these courts.

“I think the surface is a little bit quicker, which, I don’t know if it makes sense, but it makes me have a little bit more time on the court because I hit my first aggressive shot and then I can kind of dictate from there.”

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 02: Alexei Popyrin of Australia celebrates his win against Holger Rune of Denmark during the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 02, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) Source: AFP

Popyrin caused headaches for Rune early in the match, generating 11 break points in the opening set but the Australian failed to take any of them.

He later said it left him “pissed”, but then he clicked into gear in the second set, making just two unforced errors from the baseline as he converted both break point opportunities to level proceedings.

Popyrin also took the first break point chance he got in the deciding set, and charged to the finish line from then.

The biggest feature of his performance was the greater consistency from the back of the court he has been craving, hitting 30 winners compared to 24 unforced errors.

Meanwhile, Rune’s balance of those two statistics were out of whack with the Dane’s 24 winners offset by 39 unforced errors.

Going deep into the tournament is also a considerable boost to Popyrin’s world ranking.

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, hits a backhand return to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during their men's match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) Source: AP

He currently stands at 26th in the world, but risked dropping out of the top 50 with an early exit in Canada as he defends the 1000 points he gained last year.

“When it comes to this week, you kind of just face it,” Popyrin said of the ranking points after defeating Medvedev.

“You just accept that, quite probably, you’ll drop outside the Top 50 if you don’t win matches, and you just face it.

“And that’s what I did this week, and it’s kind of like a weight off my shoulder now, and I’m just playing free.”

Popyrin is not the only Australian male left in the draw as ninth seed Alex de Minaur faces seventh seed Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in three sets in the previous round, in a Round of 16 clash in the early hours of Monday morning AEST.

De Minaur will be fresh a third round walkover against countryman Chris O’Connell and is in form following capturing his 10th ATP title in Washington last week.

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