Alexander Zverev Beats Popyrin to Reach Toronto Semifinals
Alexander Zverev overcame a tough challenge from Alexei Popyrin to reach the National Bank Open semifinals in Toronto. The top-seeded German rallied back from a set down and now eyes his 25th career title in a tournament missing many top names.
09:39 AM Aug 05, 2025 IST
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Aakash Khuman
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev battled past Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in a thrilling three-set match to reach the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Toronto. After losing a tense first-set tiebreak 6-7 (8), Zverev bounced back with 6-4 and 6-3 wins in the next two sets, showcasing his experience and composure.
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Eyes Set on 25th Title
The German star, ranked world No. 3, is chasing his 25th ATP Tour title and his eighth ATP Masters 1000 crown. The 2017 champion of this event, Zverev now heads to his 75th ATP semifinal and awaits the winner of Karen Khachanov vs. Alex Michelsen.
High Stakes Ahead
While Zverev claimed his semifinal spot on Monday, the rest of the quarterfinals are lined up for Tuesday. Fans can expect high-octane matches with second seed Taylor Fritz facing Russia’s Andrey Rublev, and Ben Shelton clashing with Australian Alex de Minaur. Both semifinals will take place Wednesday, followed by the final on Thursday.
From Frustration to Focus
Despite initial frustration—Zverev even launched a ball out of the stadium—he quickly regained composure in the second set. After an early break, Popyrin fought back to 4-4, but Zverev edged ahead and closed the set at 6-4, resetting the momentum.
Dominant Decider Display
In the final set, Zverev broke early for a 2-0 lead and never looked back. He maintained control and served out the match, ensuring his return to the semifinals after last year’s early exit in the quarters.
Past Wins and Present Form
Zverev's strong form this season continues. The 28-year-old reached the Australian Open final (losing to Jannik Sinner) and made the French Open quarterfinals. His 2025 campaign includes two clay titles, and he remains unbeaten (4-0) against Popyrin in their head-to-head record.
Toronto Field Misses Top Stars
With key players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, and Novak Djokovic skipping the event, Zverev stands as the highest-ranked player in the draw. His consistency and form make him a favorite for the title in the weakened field.
End of Popyrin’s Winning Streak
Meanwhile, Alexei Popyrin’s impressive nine-match winning run in Canada came to a halt. The 25-year-old, currently ranked No. 26, showed grit but couldn’t stop Zverev from marching into the semifinals.
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