SINGAPORE, February 27, 2021
Alexei Popyrin of Australia and No. 4 seed Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the Singapore Tennis Open held at the OCBC Arena in the vast Singapore Sports Hub.
Popyrin knocked out No. 3 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-6(5), 7-6(2) in the stage of the final four. The first set went into a tie-break where Popyrin eventually broke the deadlock and won 7-5 to take the lead. The second set proved to be no different after it was tied once again at 6-6 as both players failed to break each other. The 21-year-old Australian jumped into a 5-0 lead in the tie-break which proved to be Cilic’s downfall as he closed out the match after two hours of play.
This is Popyrin’s first ATP Tour final of his career, beating US-American Christopher Eubanks, Bulgarian teenager Adrian Andreev, fellow Australian Matthew Ebden and Cilic in the process.
Achievment UNLOCKED ✅
21-year-old @AlexeiPopyrin99 reaches his first ATP final, defeating 2014 US Open champ Cilic 7-6 7-6!#SingaporeTennisOpen pic.twitter.com/rEZHKV6NDd
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2021
“It definitely means a lot to me. It’s all the hard work and sacrifice my family and I, and the people around me, have put in for this moment. But it’s not over. It’s definitely an amazing feeling but I got one more match that I want to focus on, then it’s pretty much complete,” said Popyrin.
When asked about the fans, the youngster said: “The fans always give an extra incentive to play and go out there to compete. There were only 250 fans but they were loud and you could hear them – it felt like the stadium was full. They definitely cheered me on. There were some Aussies that I heard by their accents in the stands and they were definitely screaming. It’s always an amazing feeling when you’re not playing in your own country and you’ve got people supporting you. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Bublik fights past Albot
Later on Saturday, Bublik rallied from a set down to overcome No. 6 seed Radu Albot of Moldova 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. It was a tough match for both sides with Albot winning the first set 6-2. The second set went Bublik’s way as he eased past the Moldovian taking the second set 6-3. Albot failed to hold his serve in the opening game of the deciding set which proved to be his undoing as Bublik cruised to a 6-4 win in the third to secure victory in one hour and 30 minutes.
A new ATP champion will be crowned tomorrow 👑
Alexander Bublik will face Popyrin for the Singapore title after dispatching Albot 2-6 6-3 6-4! #SingaporeTennisOpen pic.twitter.com/aqAjZbVXv7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2021
“I played okay in the key moments and I won my serve in all the games,” said Bublik. “I believe he (Radu) won three points in the third set of my serve which means I served great so it was good. It was a good match… Alexei is a great player. If he’s reached the final means he’s in great form. He’s beaten some good guys recently and I’m looking forward to share the final with him.”
Both finalists have yet to win their first career ATP Tour title. Popyrin won the only previous meeting with Bublik in the first round of the Astana Challenger 2018.
Full list of Results from Day 6 of the Singapore Tennis Open
RESULTS – FEBRUARY 27, 2021
Men’s Singles – Semifinals
A. Popyrin (AUS) d [3] M. Cilic (CRO) 76(5) 76(2)
[4] A. Bublik (KAZ) d [6] R. Albot (MDA) 26 63 64
Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
[4] M. Ebden (AUS) / J. Smith (AUS) d L. Martinez (VEN) / D. Vega Hernandez (ESP) 64 64
