PETE ZIEBRON
Canadian Denis Shapovalov won a fierce battle on Court 3 on Monday with young American Wild Card Frances Tiafoe 7-6(6) 3-6 7-5 to earn the right to fight another day at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
Shapovalov was broken at 30 by Tiafoe to start the match and each player proceeded to hold serve quite comfortably until the American served for the opening set at 5-4. Tiafoe played a poor game and was broken at love as the match was leveled at 5 all. Despite racing to a 40-0 lead in the next game, Tiafoe came back to reach deuce before Shapovalov won the next two points to take a 6-5 lead.
Next, Tiafoe held at love to force the tiebreaker. Each player held serve for the opening five points before Shapovalov earned a mini-break to go up 4-3. After winning the next two points, Shapovalov stood at 6-3. Tiafoe would win both of his service points and the Canadian had the opening set on his racquet. However, Tiafoe stole the next point to level at 6-all as the players switched sides. Shapovalov would proceed to win the next point on his serve as well as the next point as Tiafoe served at 6-7 - first set to Shapovalov.
Shapovalov Numbers
- 10 Aces 13 Double Faults
- 4 Double Faults in 3rd Game of 3rd Set
Tiafoe held to open the second set and each player held rather comfortably until the sixth game of the set. In this game, Shapovalov double faulted three times, yet managed to overcome this sloppiness to win the game after 14 points to square the set at three all. After holding, Tiafoe managed to break at 30 and then held serve to take the second set 6-3.
Shapovalov started to feel good about his chances quickly into the deciding set as he held and proceeded to break to take a 2-0 lead. However, he would hit four double faults as he failed to consolidate and the set was back on serve.
Frances Tiafoe broke in the ninth game of the set, whipped the large crowd on Court 3 into a frenzy on the changeover and then served for the match at 5-4. Tiafoe quickly got behind 15-40, won the next point but failed to capitalize on his good fortune minutes earlier and was broken two points later.
After a quick hold by Shapovalov that featured three aces, the Canadian would break Tiafoe at 15 to win the match. Tiafoe served for the all three sets in the match but was only able to win the middle set.
Next up for Denis Shapovalov is #14 seed Kyle Edmund of Great Britain.
Comments