The Dream Continues: Shapovalov Makes Montreal SFs

  • Posted: Aug 12, 2017

The Dream Continues: Shapovalov Makes Montreal SFs

Aug122017

#NextGenATP Canadian through to Masters 1000 SF

The dream lives. #NextGenATP Denis Shapovalov continued the run of his life on Friday night, overcoming a slow and nervy start to advance to the semi-finals of the Coupe Rogers in Montreal.

The 18-year-old Canadian beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Court Central, where Shapovalov has earned legions of supporters this week at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.

He first knocked off Juan Martin del Potro, then World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the third round, and Mannarino was the latest established ATP veteran to go down against the spirited left-hander, who’s fiery play has created an electric atmosphere on the main court.

Shapovalov, at No. 143 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, was already projected to break the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 100. But he’s now expected to jump to No. 67.

His semi-final run will also help him surge to third place in the Emirates ATP Race to Milan, which will determine seven of the eight 21-and-under players who compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. The eighth player will be determined by wild card.

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Shapovalov continues to make Masters 1000 history as well. He became the youngest player to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final (since 1990), and he’ll try to do the unthinkable before this week and advance to the Coupe Rogers final. He’ll face either South African Kevin Anderson or #NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

Zverev owns a 3-0 record against Anderson in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including a straight-set win in the Citi Open final last week.

Perhaps it was the late finish from his riveting upset against Nadal or nerves from his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, but either way, Shapovalov started slowly against Mannarino, who was also looking to make his first Masters 1000 semi-final.

The Canadian struggled to stay in rallies against the Frenchman, and Mannarino took advantage, breaking the Canadian twice and cruising to a one-set lead. Shapovalov won just 55 per cent of his first-serve points in the first set.

He settled in during the second set, though. After a brief rain delay, the Canadian broke immediately for 4-2, helped by a Mannarino double fault. He sealed the set on serve and encouraged the crowd, as he’s done all this week, lifting his arms to elicit their praise.

In the third set, Mannarino recovered from an early break, but the Canadian showed fearlessness in the big moments. He broke Mannarino for a 5-4 advantage when the Frenchman netted a forehand. The 18 year old clinched the quarter-final with a body serve that Mannarino struck wide.

Roger Federer remains on course to lift his 27th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and put pressure on Rafael Nadal in the two-man battle to replace Andy Murray at No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Bidding to capture his first trophy in Montreal – and his third overall in Canada – Federer produced a spellbinding blend of power and finesse to outclass No. 12 seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 in 68 minutes on Friday afternoon at the Coupe Rogers. It was his seventh straight win over the Spaniard and Federer is now 34-2 on the season, which includes an ATP World Tour-high five titles.

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