Alexei Popyrin’s defence of the Canadian Open title has ended in the quarterfinals, with the Australian defeated by German top seed Alexander Zverev in three sets. 

Popyrin, who became the first Australian to win an ATP Masters 1000 tournament at last year’s event, took the opening set before Zverev rallied. 

The German, who lost to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the final at this year’s Australian Open and made the French Open quarterfinal, not only overcame Popyrin but also a heckling fan late in the contest. 

After Zverev hit the winning point, he turned to the heckler and waved, saying “bye-bye”, before meeting Popyrin at the net to shake his hand. 

Popyrin took the first set when his gentle backhand volley after a long rally grazed the top of the net and dropped for the winning point — much to the delight of his fans.

Zverev responded by immediately firing a ball completely out of the stadium in frustration, but quickly regrouped to go up 2-0 in the second set.

Popyrin grabbed a break of his own before holding serve at 4-4. Zverev, who won the Canadian title in Montreal eight years ago when he defeated childhood idol Roger Federer, took a 5-4 lead and then again broke his opponent to even the match.

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Ousted at the quarterfinal stage of last year’s tournament, Zverev got another break to go up 2-0 in the third set before serving out the match.

Zverev has two tournament wins on clay this year, and is the highest-ranked player competing in the Toronto field.

The German, the 2017 tournament champion, will face 11th seed Karen Khachanov in the semifinals.

Australia’s number-one-ranked male player, Alex de Minaur, will face American Ben Shelton tomorrow morning, AEST, in his quarterfinal.

AP/ABC