@Sportshorn
The tennis world is quickly beginning to take notice of a new star on the horizon. 18-year old Canadian Denis Shapovalov won his first career Grand Slam match on Monday afternoon with a convincing 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 win over Daniil Medvedev in the first round of the US Open.
Court 7 was jam packed with spectators, standing room only, to get a glimpse of the player who reached the Rogers Cup semi-finals just over two weeks ago beating World No 1 Rafael Nadal along the way.
Shapovalov with his trademark hat facing forward for a change, exchanged breaks with his 21-year old opponent in the 1st set before going up 6-5 breaking at love, a game which included a pair of stellar backhand winners. He went on to close out the 36 minute set in the next game with a put away volley.
From the start of the second set on, the match was very one sided. Shapovalov broke the World No 54 to go up 2-0 after a forehand winner down the line. He broke Medvedev again at Love to go up 4-0 and then held serve to win his seventh straight game. At one point he won 13 of 14 points in a row on the Russian’s serve.
It was more of the same in the third set. Shapovalov serving well and dominating the rallies . He broke Medvedev in the opening game and then did it two more times in the set. In the fifth game, a clearly rattled Medvedev double faulted away three straight points and was unable to get seven straight serves in play.
“I think I played a very good match,” said Shapovalov. ” Stayed very solid from beginning to the end. I had a couple fall-throughs, being a break up, having him break back. I did a good job of staying mentally solid on those situations and getting the break when I needed it.”
Shapovalov won 38 more points than his opponent and had just two double faults in the match, something that has plagued him of late.
Shapovalov has now won five of the last six matches he has played. He has doubled his career earnings and seen his world ranking move into the Top 70. Impressive stuff and exciting for Canadian tennis fans who are unable to cheer on the top Canadian in the Men’s game this year. The oft-injured Milos Raonic is unable to play in New York with a left wrist injury.
“The environment has been pretty crazy all week. It’s been a lot of fun to play under these conditions,” said the World No 69. “I didn’t expect to be in the States and have so many supporters coming out. I heard some of the fans talking to me, they come from Calgary, from Montreal, from Toronto (Canada) to come out and support me. It’s so much fun to be on the court under these conditions. Like I said before in Montreal, the crowd really helps me play my best tennis.” They helped me out again today.
Shapovalov will have a tough test ahead as he will face No 8 seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the second round on Wednesday. Tsonga got past Marius Copil in straight sets earlier on Monday.
