Denis Shapovalov

[Damian]

Sharp Shapovalov Surges Into Doha QFs

Spoiler:

Canadian drops just eight points on serve

Top seed Denis Shapovalov rode a strong day on serve to a comprehensive opening win over Alex Molcan at the Qatar ExonnMobil Open Wednesday.

The Canadian dropped just eight points on serve in eight service games en route to a 6-4, 6-0 win over the World No. 73 Slovak in just 52 minutes. The lefty was a perfect six-for-six on net approaches.

It was a strong response from the 22-year-old, who last week suffered an upset straight-sets defeat to fast-rising Czech Jiri Lehecka in Rotterdam.

Shapovalov improved to 8-3 on the season, having started the year by leading Canada to victory at ATP Cup and by reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals, where he pushed eventual champion Rafael Nadal to five sets.

In the quarter-finals, Shapovalov, who had a first-round bye, will meet the winner of Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and seventh-seeded Kazah Alexander Bublik, who two weeks ago won his first tour-level title in Montpellier.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/shapova ... -wednesday

[Damian]

Bopanna/Shapovalov Reach Doha Doubles SFs

Spoiler:

Top seeds fall in Doha and Marseille
Longtime doubles partners Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov reached their second ATP Tour semi-final in the past five months with a victory at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Wednesday.

Frequent partners since 2019, the unseeded duo also reached the semi-finals in St. Petersburg in October. In Doha, they got back to that stage with an efficient 7-6(7), 6-4 win over Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. Finalists in Stuttgart in 2019, the Indian/Canadian duo is seeking a first tour-level title.

Bopanna/Shapovalov converted their only two break points of the match — one in each set — and recovered after failing to serve out the opening stanza. They took a tight tie-break on their third set point, then saw home an early advantage in the second.

Across the net in the semi-finals will be Mackenzie McDonald and Botic van de Zandschulp, who took out top seeds (and the Top 2 doubles players in the world) Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, 6-2, 3-6, 10-7.

Fourth seeds Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof are the only seeded pair in the semis; they advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nikoloz Basilashvili and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Their semi-final opponents will be Andrey Golubev and Fabrice Martin, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7 winners over Alexander Bublik and Marton Fucsovics.

Gaston/Rune upset Herbert/Mahut in Marseille
There will be no home trophy for the top-seeded pair at the Open 13 Provence, after France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut were turned back in the opening round by Hugo Gaston and Holger Rune, 6-4, 6-4. The 2021 Nitto ATP Finals doubles champions recovered an early break in the second set, but were immediately broken back as their French/Danish opponents advanced to the quarter-finals.

The other two seeded teams in Wednesday's Marseille action did advance. Second seeds Raven Klaasen and Ben McLachlan got their week off to a strong start, as did third seeds Matwe Middelkoop and Andreas Mies, who went the distance in a win over 6-1, 6-7(1), 10-8 win over Hunter Reese and Sem Verbeek.

Top seeds Arevalo/Rojer start strong in Delray
Fresh off their Dallas Open title, Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer kept rolling at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. The Salvadoran/Dutch duo did not drop a set in four Dallas wins, and they extended the streak to 10 straight sets won with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela and Max Schnur in their Delray opener.

The Delray second seeds also advanced in straights, as Austin Krajicek and Hugo Nys beat Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara, 7-6(11), 7-5. After saving five set points in the marathon tie-break, the American/Monegasque duo won it on their fourth set point, including one on the return at 5-6.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/bopanna ... -wednesday

[Damian]

[Barty]

Canadian Threat: Denis Shapovalov has enjoyed strong start to the season, helping guide Canada to the ATP Cup title in Sydney. The 22-year-old reached the semi-finals in Dubai last year and begins his 2022 tournament against Marton Fucsovics as he looks to set the wheels in motion for another deep run. In their only previous clash, the Hungarian triumphed in four sets at the 2020 Australian Open.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/acapulc ... ing-report

[Damian]

[Lucas]

[Lucas]

[Kamileki]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Barty]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Despite serving up nine double faults, World No. 13 Denis Shapovalov rallied from a set down to defeat Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to improve to 12-6 on the season. The Canadian saved 11 of 14 break points faced and next meets top-ranked American Reilly Opelka, who did not face a break point in his 6-1, 6-4 win over Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... wells-2022

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]