Milan, Italy
20-year old Andrey Rublev booked his ticket to the Next Gen ATP Semi-Finals with a hard fought five set win over 18-year old Denis Shapovalov. 4-1, 3-4, 4-3, 0-4, 4-3 was the scoreline in the two hour and two minute match, the second longest so far at the tournament.
Rublev, ranked 37th in the World, got off to a fast start breaking Shapovalov in the fourth game after his forehand went wide down the line. He then closed out the set in just 15 minutes after the Canadian’s forehand found the net. Shapovalov’s 1st serve percentage in the opening set was just 36-percent.
In the second Shapovalov started to find his groove. After a pair of cross court winners, fans began chasing “Denis Denis” and then in the sixth game the World No 51 had four break point chances to capture the second set. But it was Rublev who won four straight points and forced a tiebreak. In the breaker Shapovalov went up 5-3 after a nice put away volley on the backhand side. Shortly thereafter a forehand winner and a loud roar gave him the set to even the match.
In the third, the players exchanged breaks in the first two games and a tiebreaker was needed again. Shapovalov had a poor forehand miss giving Rublev a 4-2 lead and the Russian closed out the set with a big serve.
In between the third and fourth sets, the broadcast of the match caught some funny moments between Shapovalov and his fellow Canadian coach Martin Laurendeau. As opposed to discussing strategy for winning the next two sets they discussed Rublev’s bad tan lines and then the young Canadian mentioned how he had bought cheap coffee in downtown Milan during the day. Some great light hearted moments between the two which you don’t usually get during regular Tour level matches. (One of the new rules at the Next Gen event was allowing players to speak with their coaches through a headset.) Rublev was getting treatment for a blister on his left foot.
The fourth set was all Shapovalov. He broke his opponent twice, the final point he captured while falling down to the ground giving him a second break and the set.
In the fifth, the players both held serve so a third tiebreak of the match was needed. What has hampered Shapovalov of late came to light again as he made several careless mistakes not keeping the ball in the court. Rublev won the tiebreak 7-3 and won the match.
Rublev had just 16 winners overall while Shapovalov had 26. But “Shapo’s” 30 unforced errors did him in. He was also only able to break Rublev on three of 13 opportunities.
After the match, a nice gesture by both players as Rublev applauded Shapovalov while leaving the court while the Canadian dropped his bags and applauded the crowd for their support throughout the week.
Rublev now advances to the Next Gen Semi-Finals on Friday. He will face Borna Coric in the first match of the evening. Coric went undefeated in his three round-robin affairs and if he avoid loses through the Final he will collect the maximum amount of possible winnings $390,000.
@Sportshorn
