Alexander Zverev accomplishes important landmark for the first time since Roger Federer after defeating Alexei Popyrin

Alexander Zverev is through to another Masters 1000 semi-final after defeating the Canadian Open defending champion.

Zverev showed his grit during an almighty battle against defending champion Alexei Popyrin, winning the contest 6-7 6-4 6-3.

The world number three has been looking to find form heading into the US Open after a disappointing first round exit at Wimbledon.

Zverev, who was described by John McEnroe as the best ATP player in history to have not won a Grand Slam title, has been training with Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, and it seems the work he has put in has paid off.

With victory over Popyrin, Zverev achieved something for the first time since Roger Federer in 2004.

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Alexander Zverev rivals Roger Federer

Roger Federer is undoubtedly one of the very best players in tennis history. With 20 Grand Slam titles, including eight Wimbledon titles, there is a genuine case to be made for him to be the best player in history.

While Alexander Zverev is currently incomparable to the Swiss legend in terms of silverware, he has rivalled Federer in one significant statistical area after defeating Alexei Popyrin at the Canadian Open.

As per OptaAce, since the ATP Masters 1000 format’s inception in 1990, Alexander Zverev is just the second top seed to defeat the reigning Men’s Singles champion at the Canadian Open, after Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick in 2004.

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In 2004, Federer defeated Roddick in the Canadian Open final, winning 7-5 6-3. Roddick had won the title in the year previous, defeating Argentina’s Guillermo Canas in the final.

Returning to 2025, Zverev will face 11th seed Karen Khachanov in the Canadian Open semi-finals. The Russian defeated 20-year-old Alex Michelsen in the quarter-finals.

Zverev leads his head-to-head record over Khachanov by five wins to two. Khachanov’s last win against Zverev came in 2019 at the Canadian Open.

Roger Federer’s dominant record against Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick’s record against Roger Federer may make you wince. Federer won 21 of their 24 contests across 11 years on the ATP Tour.

Federer won 12 straight matches between Roddick’s first two victories against the Swiss great: the 2003 Canadian Open and the 2008 Miami Open.

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Federer also defeated Roddick in three Wimbledon finals and one US Open final.

However, the American had the last laugh, defeating Federer in their final match at the 2012 Miami Open. Roddick won the contest in three sets, 7-6 1-6 6-4.

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