Denis' Day: Shapovalov Lifts First Title In Stockholm
Denis’ Day: Shapovalov Lifts First Title In Stockholm
Canadian triumphs in straight sets
Since his breakthrough semi-final run at the 2017 Coupe Rogers, Denis Shapovalov has been named as a title contender at ATP Tour events across the world.
On Sunday, the #NextGenATP Canadian became an ATP Tour champion for the first time at the Intrum Stockholm Open. Shapovalov became the 15th first-time tour-level champion of the year in the Swedish capital, defeating Filip Krajinovic 6-4, 6-4 in 84 minutes.
First-Time ATP Champions In 2019
| Player | Age | Tournament |
| Alex de Minaur | 19 | Sydney |
| Tennys Sandgren | 27 | Auckland |
| Juan Ignacio Londero | 25 | Cordoba |
| Laslo Djere | 23 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Reilly Opelka | 21 | New York |
| Radu Albot | 28 | Delray Beach |
| Guido Pella | 28 | Sao Paulo |
| Cristian Garin | 22 | Houston |
| Adrian Mannarino | 30 | ‘s-Hertogenbosch |
| Taylor Fritz | 21 | Eastbourne |
| Lorenzo Sonego | 24 | Antalya |
| Nicolas Jarry | 23 | Bastad |
| Dusan Lajovic | 29 | Umag |
| Hubert Hurkacz | 22 | Winston-Salem |
| Denis Shapovalov | 20 | Stockholm |
Shapovalov did not drop a set en route to the trophy in Stockholm. The fourth seed beat Alexei Popyrin and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe to reach his eighth tour-level semi-final, before snapping his seven-match losing streak in last-four clashes against Yuichi Sugita on Saturday.
The three-time Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier’s victory marks the second straight year that a #NextGenATP star has captured his first ATP Tour crown at this ATP 250 event. In 2018, Stefanos Tsitsipas picked up his maiden trophy in Stockholm before triumphing at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
Shapovalov’s title run comes in the same week that he booked his place at this year’s 21-and-under event. The third edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals will take place from 5-9 November at the Allianz Cloud.
Krajinovic was also attempting to claim his first ATP Tour trophy. The 27-year-old was competing in his third tour-level championship match, with previous runner-up finishes at this year’s Hungarian Open and the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters.
Shapovalov earns 250 ATP Ranking points and collects €109,590 in prize money for lifting the trophy. Krajinovic receives 150 ATP Ranking points and €59,255.