By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, February 27, 2021
Alexei Popyrin squeezed out a 7-6(5), 7-6(2) win over Marin Cilic to reach his first ATP final where he will play Alexander Bublik for the Singapore Open title.
Photo credit: Mike Owen/Getty
Alexei Popyrin rode a crackling serve and calm nerve into his first ATP final.
The 114th-ranked Popyrin pumped 15 aces squeezing out a 7-6(5), 7-6(2) win over Marin Cilic to reach his first ATP final at the Singapore Open.
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Popyrin has posted a 5-0 record in tiebreakers this week, including his 6-4, 7-6(7) quarterfinal victory over compatriot Matthew Ebden.
"It feels amazing," Popyrin said. "I've sacrificed a lot and I've worked so hard my whole life to be in an ATP final and now that I'm finally in one, it feels amazing.
"All the sacrifices my family and I made are paying off finally."
The 21-year-old Aussie will play Alexander Bublik for the Singapore Open title.
The fourth-seeded Bublik continued his strong start to the season rallying past sixth-seeded Radu Albot 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 90-minute victory vaults Bublik into his fourth career final, including his second title match in four tournaments this season.
The 46th-ranked Bublik was forced to retire trailing Alex de Minaur 0-2 in the season-opening Antalya final.