Alexei Popyrin has given up a set advantage to lose in three to top seed Alexander Zverev at the Canadian Open quarter-finals in Montreal.
The Australian nicked the first set in a tiebreaker but was gradually worn down by the world no.3 6-7(8) 6-4 6-3 in two hours, 44 minutes.
Zverev will now meet the winner of Karen Khachanov and Alex Michelsen in the semis as he chases an eighth ATP 1000 Masters title
A tight first set saw both players save a single break point through their service games before a tiebreaker was initiated to be the set decider
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Popyrin edged ahead early in the breaker to take a 4-2 lead at the change of ends, but Zverev earned the mini-break and got the first set point.
The German failed to convert at 6-5 on Popyrin's serve, but managed to save one of the Australian's break points on his own delivery at 7-6
Zverev had one more opportunity to wrap up the set at 8-7 where he fell short, before Popyrin took advantage of a shot that hit the net cord and just dropped over to win the first set.
Overcoming the disappointment of losing a tight set, Zverev held serve, broke Popyrin and then consolidated the break to race to a 3-0 lead.
But after surviving a break point scare on his serve before holding to make it 4-1, Zverev lost his serve to love in the seventh game, making it back on serve at 4-3.
Games remained on serve until Popyrin failed to hold his nerve at 4-5, going 0-40 down before conceding the second set 6-4 on the second break point.
Zverev took his momentum into the third set and once again raced to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of a single break that was consolidated.
But the Australian didn't have it in him to muster another comeback as Zverev closed the match out to reach the semis.