Shapovalov Moves On In Delray Beach

#NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov announced himself to the tennis world last year at the Rogers Cup when he stormed to the semi-finals. And now, after ousting #NextGenATP American Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4 on Friday evening at the Delray Beach Open, the 2017 Emirates ATP Star of Tomorrow is into his second ATP World Tour semi-final.

“I played really well,” Shapovalov said. “I felt really comfortable from the warm-up. I felt really good with my timing and I returned well when I needed to.”

The World No. 46 is bidding to become the 15th 18-year-old this millennium to win an ATP World Tour crown. The youngest player to achieve the feat since 2000 is Kei Nishikori, who was 18 years, 1 month, 19 days old when he triumphed in Delray Beach 10 years ago this week. The left-hander arrived in Florida having not won two tour-level matches in a row at a tournament since the 2017 US Open, where he advanced to the fourth round. 

The Canadian was one of four #NextGenATP stars to make the quarter-finals in Delray Beach, something that did not go unnoticed by Shapovalov.

“It almost feels like a junior tournament right now. So many young guys in the quarters and going to be in the semis,” Shapovalov said. “It’s really nice to see so many up-and-coming guys doing well. We all get along really well, so we wish the best for each other. It’s good to see a little bit of a new generation of tennis, a new era beginning to happen. I feel like in the near future we’re going to see a lot more young guys coming up and a lot more upsets.”

Shapovalov, who saved both break points he faced against Fritz, will play reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hyeon Chung or another #NextGenATP American in Frances Tiafoe on Saturday.

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In the other half of the draw, Peter Gojowczyk cut down his second tall foe in as many matches by defeating Reilly Opelka 7-6(5), 6-3, to advance to the semi-finals. The 6’2” Gojowczyk needed one hour, 17 minutes to take down the 6’11” American in straight sets. In the previous round, the German upset the tournament’s sixth seed, 6’10” John Isner, in three tie-breaks.

Gojowczyk, who was forced to retire last week during a second-round match against Adrian Mannarino at the New York Open due to injury, was satisfied with his victory.

“I’m very happy to have won today,” Gojowczyk said. “I didn’t give him many chances. I was solid and played well from the baseline. I got some small opportunities and I took them. If you return well, it’s tough… I strike the ball early, so maybe it’s harder for them to play me from the baseline.”

Opelka knew he’d have his hands full going into the match against the world No. 64, considering his track record (now 0-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series) and Gojowczyk’s current form. The end result didn’t come as much of a surprise.

“I kind of expected it; he beat me the last time we played,” Opelka said. “I never want to play him again, he’s got my number. He does everything well and he’s a great player.”

Gojowczyk will face another American, Steve Johnson, for a place in the final. Johnson needed one hour, 18 minutes to move past Russia’s Evgeny Donskoy 6-1, 6-4. It was their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting since a dramatic five-set encounter in the first round of the 2016 U.S. Open, when Johnson came from two sets down to prevail in five sets.

“I had a tough early game today, got out of it and maybe broke his spirit a little bit,” the 28-year-old American said. “I was able to rattle off some games in the first set and plus it was windy today, so sometimes the (wind) gusts go your way.”