Shapovalov, Felix Set For US Open Blockbuster

The future of Canadian tennis will be on showcase from the start of the US Open, which begins Monday. The bad news for Canadian tennis fans: One of their brightest #NextGenATP stars won’t survive the first round.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, 18, and Denis Shapovalov, 19, will meet for the first time at tour-level in New York. The two played last year at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Drummondville (indoor hard), with Shapovalov winning 7-5, 6-3.

The left-hander is the 28^th seed and will try to back up his fourth-round run of a year ago (l. to Carreno Busta). Auger-Aliassime qualified to make his Grand Slam main-draw debut.

Both players are in strong contention to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 6-10 November in Milan. Shapovalov is currently third in the ATP Race To Milan; Auger-Aliassime is in 12th place. The top seven players in the Race will qualify automatically, while the eighth spot will be reserved for the winner of an all-Italian qualifier tournament to be held just prior to the prestigious 21-and-under event in Milan.

It will be the second meeting between the teens, having previously clashed at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Drummondville, Canada, last year. Shapovalov prevailed 7-5, 6-3, en route to his first Challenger title. 

Watch Highlights Of Felix vs. Denis In Drummondville 2017

Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime’s countryman Peter Polansky snuck into the US Open main draw as a lucky loser. But the 30-year-old is starting to make that act look like skill. He became the first player to earn a lucky loser spot in all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year.

He might need a bit of luck during his opener: Polansky faces fourth seed Alexander Zverev. Other notable first-rounders featuring qualifiers include Spanish veteran vs. 15^th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece; home favourite Donald Young vs. third seed and 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro; and Argentine Facundo Bagnis against 2016 semi-finalist Gael Monfils.