Denis Shapovalov is into the quarterfinals of the San Diego Open after beating Taylor Fritz 7-6, 6-2 in one hour and 38 minutes serving six aces and winning 90% of his first-serve points.
” I was just trying to take it point by point and it was happening quick out there,” said Sharpovalov. “Obviously it’s never easy to play a second-round match when your opponent has already played a match so I tried to drag it out and feel good and I think I fought well.”
The world number 13 had a chance to break in the first game of the match but the American managed to save it and hold serve. The match stayed on serve until 2-1 when the world number 39 earned a breakpoint and broke to take a 3-1 lead.
At 4-1 after consolidating the break Fritz appeared to had hurt his leg and he called for the trainer but opted against taking the medical timeout to receive treatment. The very next game he had three chances to go up a double break but the Toronto native saved all three and held a crucial service game.
The very next game Shapovalov earned a chance to get the break back and go back on serve. He did just that and it stayed on serve again after that until 6-5 when a costly double fault gave Fritz two set points but failed to convert on both.
The first set was decided by a tiebreaker and again it was the California native who jumped out to a 2-0 lead but Shapovalov responded winning the next two and it was back and forth until Fritz jumped out to a 6-3 lead but again lost the next three points.
The Amercian had a fourth chance to take the set at 7-6 but the Canadian dug deep and saved it and got the final break and took the first set.
Winning the first set seemed to have shifted the momentum in favor of the world number 13. After holding the opening service game had two chances to break and got the early break to take a 2-0 lead.
He managed to consolidate the break and it stayed on serve until 5-2 when the Canadian found himself at match point and sealed the win with a trademark backhand winner down the line.
“I played really well on the set points but I think my game put me in that position,” said Shapovalov. “I am super happy I was able to dig my way out of it and I allowed myself to free up and play some really good tennis from there on.’
“I played more relaxed from that moment and winning that (the first) set was a confidence booster and I wanted to take advantage of that in the second set.”.
Shapovalov will face a fellow lefty on Friday in Cameron Norrie who beat fellow Brit in Dan Evans 7-6, 6-3.
